Category: General

African Charity Organisation, the BernHoffman Care Foundation, has donated relief items to persons in the Volta region affected by the spillage from the Akosombo Dam. The items, valued at over GHS35,000, included rice, cooking oil, drinks, drinking water, toiletries and sanitary material, among other essentials, were to meet the needs of those adversely affected by the floodwaters. The items were distributed to residents in Tokpo in North Tongu in the Volta region with the assistance of the Assembly Man for that electoral area, Mr Israel Kweku Animie. Speaking on behalf of Dr Bernadette Naa Hoffman, President of the Foundation, a member of the team, Mr Collins Cobblah sympathised with the displaced persons and appealed to them to take personal hygiene more seriously in the wake of the disaster. The Foundation, he indicated, had taken note of the devastating impact of the dam spillage on the lives and livelihoods of people in the communities surrounding the dam, the reason Dr Hoffman had marshalled support for affected inhabitants. ‘We are here to assure all of you that we will not relent in our efforts to support you and that your safety and wellbeing are our top priorities,’ he stated. Mr Cobblah expressed concern about the health implications the flooding could have in the affected communities and urged parents to be cautious and take care of their young ones to avoid casualties. ‘Let’s take care of the children who are our future leaders. Let’s be mindful we don’t send them to places where they’re likely to drown. Also important is the need to practice personal hygiene to stay healthy in these difficult times,’ he charged the inhabitants. The Assembly Man for the area and some of the recipients thanked Dr Hoffman and the Foundation for the gesture and appealed for increased support ‘We’re exceedingly grateful for your benevolence and it’s our prayer that God replenishes you mightily so we get to benefit some more. We’re still appealing for more from other individuals and groups to put smiles on the faces of these displaced people. The floods have displaced many people , who are now staying with friends and family. And already, there are reports of small quarrels over food and space,’ one of the affected persons stated. The flooding caused by the spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong hydro dams forced many communities in the North, South, and Central Tongu districts of the Volta region to evacuate, leaving them with no choice but to live in makeshift structures in the meantime. Per data from the National Disaster Management Office (NADMO), there are 21 camps in the North Tongu Constituency alone. In all, some 36,000 people have been displaced by the dam spillage which commenced on September 15, 2023.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Said Adejumobi, Director, Strategic Planning, Oversight and Results Division, (SPORD), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) says the Joint Inter-governmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts (ICSOE), will engender accelerated development across the continent. He said the value proposition of the joint inter-governmental committees was expected to promote economic liberalisation, and intra-African trade and strengthen political integration. Mr Adejumobi disclosed these to the Ghana News Agency on the sidelines of the Adhoc expert group meeting. The meeting, on the theme: ‘Transition to Renewable Resources for Energy and Food Security in North and West Africa,’ preceded the second Joint Inter-governmental ICSOE for North and West Africa in Accra from November 1-3. Mr Adejuno said the meetings aimed to cross-fertilize strategic development ideas based on capacity and open avenues for collaboration in furtherance of the ideals of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) as well as regional goals. The ECA makes key recommendations for member states, through research and other strategies to bring regional and global perspectives and commitments as a way forward. The ECA’s regional offices are piloting joint ICSOE among its five Regional Economic Communities (RECs) North Africa with West Africa; Central Africa with East Africa and South Africa. Mr Adejumobi said next year, 2024, which would be the third pilot phase of the Joint Inter-governmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts would be expected to elicit policy review, credibility, and re-alignment of ICSOE in terms of results and outcomes. He said the zeal for the joint sessions is overwhelming as the continent is desirous of bringing the necessary development closer to the people leveraging on energy, food security and value chains. On the practicality of ICSOE, he said Morocco and Egypt were resilient in infrastructural development including road construction, explaining that Ghana could do business with those countries rather than over-reliance on China. He said Ghana’s cocoa bean could also be processed within and in Morocco or South Africa for a win-win situation in an intra-African trade and commerce initiative. Participants examined the impact of climate change in both sub-regions, discussed practical measures for countries to adapt and safeguard their energy and food security, while advancing their development and made some important recommendations. Experts, researchers, development practitioners, and representatives from 22 North and West African countries attended the meeting and discussed three critical issues. The impact of climate change and its implications for economic and social development strategies. Energy security and climate change challenges, and especially the pivotal role of renewable energy in meeting the needs of the populations.

Source: Ghana News Agency

General crime has reduced in the Dormaa East District of the Bono Region, the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Augustine Kingsley Oppong, Dormaa East District Police Commander has said. He has therefore expressed appreciation to all stakeholders in the district for their support, saying the police would continue to rely on the public in fighting crime. Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Wamfie, the district capital, ASP Oppong said fighting crime remained a shared and collective responsibility. With assistance from the public, the Police could successfully bring crime to the barest minimum, and thereby, create a safe society. He said the command would not relax, but continue to put in place measures, intensify patrols and enhance personnel visibility at Wamfie and adjoining settlements, saying, the command had increased efforts to stem substance abuse and peddling among the youth in the area. ASP Oppong said the Police were also collaborating with the District Security Committee (DISEC) to halt the activities of illegal miners in the district and urged the people to endeavour to provide information about people with questionable characters and strange movements in the localities.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ms Elizabeth Boakye-Yiadom, a 17-year-old Ghanaian-American high school student and a Sunday School Teaching Assistant at the All Nations United Methodist Church in Charlotte, has launched a project dubbed Read-To-Excel and a reading laboratory. The project, which is being rolled out at Pepease Presbyterian Basic School in Kwahu Pepease, is designed to equip students in underserved communities. It is expected to be incorporated into the church Sunday School to enhance the reading skills of children as they live out their God-given gifts and become loyal and faithful citizens of the church and country. The Read-to-Excel project offers a combination of audiovisual technology and books to improve learning methods and instruction for students. It also aims to support and promote the Readers Club in schools. Ms Elizabeth Boakye-Yiadom’s father, Rev. Dr Emmanuel Boakye-Yiadom, explained that Ms Boakye-Yiadom’s observations of inadequate reading and mathematical skills among pre-college students in underserved communities during her visit to Ghana had an impact on the decision. She decided to start this project because of the circumstances she saw in underprivileged areas of Ghana during her visit. UNICEF 2020 MICS-EAGLE Ghana Education report shows that ‘only seven per cent of children in Grade three had the expected reading skills for that grade, while eight per cent of children have the expected numeracy skills.’ Rev. Boakye-Yiadom explained that with the realisation of literary challenges among school-going children in Ghana and minority communities in the USA, she decided to launch the project to enable students and children to become proficient in reading and mathematics. To make this project sustainable, she said, she had created an Amazon wish list to allow the community to support this endeavour and make a presentation on the project to the All Nations United Methodist Church in Charlotte, USA, to promote church participation. The items provided to the Pepease Presbyterian Basic School included a computer laptop, projector, projector screen, headphones, DVDs or CDs for audiovisual instruction in English and mathematics, books, and Christian literature. Rev. Boakye-Yiadom called on other philanthropists and natives of Kwahu to emulate the kind gesture and promised to extend the project to other schools in hard-to-reach areas. Madam Irene Djabakuor Djorbuah, the head of the school, who received the keys, lauded the team for the project and promised to maintain the items for the betterment of the students. She was hopeful that with the provision of the reading laboratory, students would improve their vocabulary and skills.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Construction of an examination printing centre to serve as a central point for printing of examination questions for schools in the Obuasi Municipality has begun with a call on the contractor to deliver quality work. The GHC 2.4 million project is expected to bring some relief to parents who would no longer have to pay printing fees for their wards upon the completion of the project in the next four months. Funded by AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine under its 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP), the facility comes with a printing and production, storage, changing and washrooms. It is the second to be built by the company with a similar facility already under construction in the Obuasi East District as part of its corporate social responsibility in host communities. ‘We are excited about the construction of the exams printing centre, which highlights our dedication to enhance accessibility and efficiency of exams preparation for students in the Obuasi Municipality,’ Mr. Jacob Edmund-Acquah, Senior Manager, Projects Services and Business Improvement of AngloGold Ashanti, said at a ceremony. He said the expectation was that the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) pass rate in the Municipality would move from 94 per cent to 100 per cent after the construction of the centre coupled with the other educational interventions. ‘By investing in education infrastructure, we are not only contributing to enhancing the development of Obuasi but also nurture the talents and potential of our students,’ he said. Mr. Edmund-Acquah said the printing centre was one of many infrastructures in the education sector being funded by the company and mentioned a plethora of completed and on-going projects. He said the company had also sponsored the training of over 500 teachers to sharpen their teaching skills while providing teaching and learning materials to public schools this year. Mr. Elijah Adansi- Bonah, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), applauded AngloGold Ashanti for providing what he described as a significant intervention for schools and parents in the Municipality. He said the Assembly had been printing BECE mock papers for schools over the years at huge cost and welcomed the intervention with gratitude. The MCE pledged the Assembly’s commitment to set aside a budget dedicated for the running of the centre annually. Mr. George Koomson, the Municipal Education Director, commended AngloGold Ashanti for addressing one of the perennial challenges confronting schools in the Municipality.

Source: Ghana News Agency

In recent years, the world has witnessed a startling surge in cybercrimes, a relentless wave of attacks driven by increasingly sophisticated criminal actors. Their targets are vast and varied, ranging from individuals to global organizations and entire nations, with a particular focus on the lucrative financial sector. The impact of cybercrimes is profound, leading to severe financial losses and tarnished reputations for victims. Cybersecurity and effects But what is cybersecurity, and why is it so crucial in the modern age? Cybersecurity is the art of safeguarding networks, devices, and data from unauthorized access and criminal exploitation. It involves upholding the pillars of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information. What makes cybercrimes particularly alarming is their symbiotic relationship with dependence on computers, the ever-growing desire for internet connectivity, and the expansive realm of the Internet of Things (IoT). Threat actors have honed their focus on exploiting IoT devices, as they become increasingly prevalent and vulnerable to hacking. As per Business Insider’s projections, experts anticipate a staggering 23 billion IoT devices in operation by 2024. As this number soars, so does the attack surface for cybercriminals to exploit, threatening our daily activities, be it in communication, entertainment, transportation, shopping, medicine, or more. The issue becomes more critical when we consider the vast amount of personal information stored on our own devices or within someone else’s systems. Devastating forms of cybercrime One of the most financially devastating forms of cybercrime is information theft, which is on the rise at an alarming rate. Cybercriminals are continuously evolving, adapting their attack vectors based on their chosen targets. The impact of cybercrimes is diverse, ranging from business disruption, compromised security systems, damage to critical infrastructure, data loss, intellectual property theft, and financial setbacks to regulatory fines, reputational damage, and long-term litigation costs. A glimpse into the recent Interpol report from August 2023 reveals the gravity of the situation. INTERPOL and AFRIPOL conducted a coordinated operation across 25 African countries, resulting in the arrest of 14 suspected cybercriminals and the identification of 20,674 suspicious cyber networks. This highlights the surge in digital insecurity and cyber threats in the region, networks responsible for financial losses exceeded USD 40 million. The dark web has evolved into a lucrative and user-friendly platform for cybercriminal enterprises. The rise in computer attacks has raised concerns about the growing threat of ransomware. Cybercriminals are employing various techniques to evade endpoint protection measures, particularly those focused on executable files. In light of this ominous landscape, security experts must raise awareness of the tactics employed by criminal actors and the tools available to protect against cyberattacks and data theft. The financial sector, in particular, should prioritize cybersecurity by implementing antivirus software, firewalls, fraud detection, and robust website encryption to safeguard sensitive data. In the realm of crime prevention, organizations must focus on three critical elements: people, processes, and data. Protecting People The most effective defense against cyberattacks involves educating employees about common cybersecurity threats. Without proper cybersecurity awareness, employees may inadvertently cause data breaches, placing businesses at risk. According to the SANS 2023 Security Awareness Report, human errors remain the biggest threat to an organization’s cybersecurity. Providing cybersecurity awareness training significantly reduces human errors, lowering cyber risk by up to 90%. Given the surge in cybercrimes, organizations must prioritize cybersecurity awareness training more than ever. Protecting Processes An organization’s IT department should continually monitor, review, and update all processes.Employees need to understand the consequences of installing applications or software without IT department approval. Known vulnerabilities should be closely monitored, and companies should provide secure, locked systems to prevent malicious software installations. Protecting Data Organizations must assert firm control over the data they handle. Recent studies show that companies often share sensitive information with over 500 third-party vendors. To mitigate this risk, organizations should conduct an inventory of shared information and limit it to a strict need-to-know basis. Moreover, all sensitive data, including employee information, business data, and customer information, should be encrypted. Regular backups of data stored securely outside the organization’s network are essential. As the tide of cybercrime continues to rise, individuals and organizations face equal risks. Taking necessary precautions and adhering to essential cybersecurity practices are critical for defense. The future of the internet remains under constant threat from evolving cyberattacks. It is essential to familiarize employees with these risks, secure networks, and utilize two-factor authentication (2FA) for digital devices. In this digital era, the protection of our connected world is paramount. The responsibility falls on individuals, organizations, and security experts to work collectively in the relentless battle against cybercrimes. The writer is a former British Army Official, currently serving as the Information Security Associate for Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) at Wells Fargo, based in London, UK. With his extensive expertise.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Addis Ababa, The government of Ethiopia said that it has shown its unwavering commitment to the implementation of the peace agreement through number of bold and decisive measures to build trust and consolidate peace.

The government of Ethiopia issued statement today regarding the first anniversary of the signing of the “Agreement For Lasting Peace through a Permanent Cessation of Hostilities”

It said in the statement that the Peace Agreement has been instrumental in silencing the guns and paving the way for the gradual normalization of life in northern Ethiopia.

The Government of Ethiopia takes this opportunity and milestone which affords us to take stock of the situation and appraise Ethiopia’s friends and partners on the progress in the implementation of the Peace Agreement.

“The government has shown its unwavering commitment to the implementation of the agreement through number of bold and decisive measures to build trust and consolidate peace,” according to the statement.

The statement recalled some of the salient measures we have taken thus far; the Federal Government has firmly turned the page by first putting an end to all military operations and hostile rhetoric against the TPLF.

We immediately went further by expediting and facilitating the provision of humanitarian assistance and facilitated the resumption of all essential services in the Tigray region, the statement added.

The government set up and put into operation a Rehabilitation Commission aimed at facilitating the process of demobilizing and reintegrating ex-TPLF combatants,” it added.

The Federal legislature lifted the terrorist designation and proscription of the TPLF and released prisoners in a bid to further build trust it said, adding this allowed the Government to drop all charges brought against senior TPLF officials.

The government facilitated the establishment of an interim regional administration and provided budgetary grants and support to the regional administration through federal fiscal transfers as well as through sectoral and horizontal assistance from other regions, the statement said.

To put this process on a solid foundation, we are finalizing the formulation of a comprehensive national transitional justice policy to ensure accountability and reconciliation, the statement added.

These measures, demonstrate the commitment of the Federal Government to the full implementation of the Peace Agreement. Considering the principles underpinning the Agreement, the Federal Government has gone above and beyond its obligations under the Peace Agreement to realize its noble objectives, statement indicated.

For instance, to build trust and with a spirit of magnanimity, the Federal Government has refrained from insisting upon the timelines for disarmament set out in the Agreement.

It has refrained from deploying a large contingent of armed and security forces in Mekelle, despite its constitutional prerogatives that have been reiterated in the agreement.

Moreover, the statement noted that the broad-minded approach of the Federal Government has also been demonstrated in the way it has denied the ruling party at the federal level a seat in the interim regional administration to ensure harmony and expeditious recovery of the region and swift normalization despite its entitlement to be included in the administration pursuant to the Peace Agreement.

Furthermore, concerning the contested areas, the Federal Government has brought the contesting regional states together to find a peaceful and lawful solution to the problem.

This has resulted in a clear pathway for the resolution of this issue pursuant to the FDRE Constitution, which entails; the return of IDPs who have been displaced from these areas and resumption of their farming activities; the establishment of local administrations selected from local residents; the transfer of all security and law enforcement duties in these areas to federal forces; and a final determination on the fate of these areas through a referendum to be held in the localities.

Sustainable peace entails reciprocity on both sides. As a post-conflict environment, the Tigray people require all regional government services to be functional in the interests of the people of the region through delivery by public servants, the statement noted.

Keeping combatants that could have served their people in different public roles remains a challenge, the statement said, adding that similarly, the disarmament process requires an inventory of heavy armaments handed over and a full handing over of small and light arms, which still remain rampant in the region.

It is thus imperative that friends and partners of Ethiopia continue to support and encourage all actors to adhere to the agreement and refrain from behaviour that would jeopardize peace and security in Ethiopia, the statement underlined.

“Ethiopia counts on the continued engagement of our friends and partners for lasting peace in Ethiopia.”

The government, on its part, will redouble its effort to consolidate peace and ensure the full implementation of the Peace Agreement, it underlined.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen conferred with the UN Resident Coordinator in Ethiopia, Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov.

During the meeting, Ramiz said the UN Resident Coordinator’s office and Ethiopian Government will work together on humanitarian and development issues as partners.

He also lauded the Pretoria Peace Agreement touching up on its anniversary, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ramiz said that the key challenge remains to be the availability of finance for the humanitarian work but hoped to convince international partners to up their effort.

Demeke for his part appreciated the Resident Coordinator’s office and said the Office’s road map is promising.

He also expressed the achievements after the Pretoria peace agreement including but not limited to the establishment of the Tigray Interim Government, delisting of TPLF from the terrorist list, resuming federal budget to the region and so forth.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister also highlighted the work in progress regarding the Transitional Justice Mechanism and the All Inclusive National Dialogue.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency