Category: Politics

Addis Ababa: Ethiopia’s ambassador to Uganda, Burundi, Seychelles, Comoros and Central African Republic Etsegenet Bezabih said various activities are carried out to strengthen the existing historical relationships between Ethiopia and Uganda.

According to the ambassador, activities have been underway to organize ‘Ethio-Uganda Day’ event with a view to strengthen people-to-people relations between the two countries.

She said that many Ethiopians live in Uganda noting the people of the two countries have many shared values.

The ambassador further indicated efforts being made to enhance trade ties of the countries by using the potential of Ethiopian Airlines in this regard.

The two countries have been collaborating in peace and security and in the promotion of Pan-Africanism.

In addition to Uganda, Ethiopia is keen to further strengthen its relations with other African countries including Burundi, Seychelles, Comoros and the Central African Republic, she added.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: The Horn of Africa is going through a phase of reconstruction, where there are signs of opportunities and positive development, Institute for Security Studies East Africa Regional Director Paul-Simon Handy said.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, Handy said the Horn of Africa region is going through a phase of reconstruction and regional organizations have been exerting efforts to implement some of the rules.

‘It’s true that very often we tend to criticize regional organizations for the failure of member states themselves,’ the director stated, noting that regional organizations are, however, the reflection of member states.

According to him, solutions should first come from member states and they should have a regional dimension.

‘For instance, climate change, which is a threat to the region, cannot be addressed only at the national level and needs a regional approach. Organizations like IGAD have in this regard played a very important role in terms of climate change and environmental issue
s,’ he elaborated.

IGAD has actually been instrumental in the sophisticated early warning systems for climate disasters to help member states address the challenges thereof.

Besides, Handy pointed out that the Horn of Africa region is probably Africa’s most strategic region.

‘We will always have the interests of external actors. It cannot be overstated that external actors will always come. The region is strategic.’

The director elaborated that external actors are interested in the Horn because of the safety of international trade and it is one of the most crucial trade routes that links Europe and Asia, some of the two most important regions for world trade.

These external interventions will always be there, he noted, adding that ‘the question is, how do states channel them so that they are not only useful for them at a national level, but also for regional cooperation and integration?’

Handy believes that this does not have to be contradictory, but it’s difficult because governance is different from s
tate to state; and the types of regimes we have are sometimes different and have different interests.

The director advised the Horn of Africa countries to strengthen trade relations to prevent conflict.

‘Unfortunately, Africa is one of the regions of the world in which member states trade the least with each other. Unfortunately, African states trade with external actors… (But) we need to have economies that complement each other, not that compete with each other.’

At the moment, he said that if we compare Ethiopia with its neighbors, we would see that there is a high degree of similarity in what they export. Ethiopia exports coffee, flowers, and a few other things that many of the neighbors also do.

Handy added that ‘Ethiopia has identified it quite well and worked on it for several years on industrialization, which can make Ethiopia the industrial hub of the region and now disseminates manufactured products across the region.’

The regional director further stressed that the African Continental Free T
rade Area (AfCFTA) can contribute to making member states in all the regions of Africa, particularly in the Horn, trade with each other, but do not have the same products that they export.

‘If they [member states] are dependent on each other on trade, it will be the best contribution to conflict prevention,’ he underscored.

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) aims to foster economic cooperation and create a unified market across the continent; and regional organizations like IGAD play pivotal roles in driving regional economic integration.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: Ethiopia is making preparations to successfully host the preparatory conference of the 4th UN International Conference on Financing for Development in July 2024, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie affirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to successfully host the preparatory conference while meeting with UN Deputy Secretary General Amina J Mohammed in Addis Ababa today.

The officials exchanged views on the multifaceted partnership and priorities between Ethiopia and the UN.

They also deliberated on the status of the SDG implementation, the upcoming UN summit of the future, and recent developments in the Horn of Africa.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: The mid-term review of Ethiopia-Djibouti Joint Ministerial Committee meeting is underway in Djibouti.

Transport and Logistics Minister Alemu Sime, Ethiopian Ambassador to Djibouti Birhanu Tsegaye, Djibouti Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, and Djibouti Infrastructure Minister Hassan Humad Ibrahim are attending the meeting.

During the occasion, Transport and Logistics Minister Alemu Sime said the meeting will deliberate and set directions on the issues agreed at the 16th joint committee meeting.

According to the Ethiopian Embassy in Djibouti, the meeting is expected to discuss and pass decisions on cooperation frameworks, human trafficking, and border trading.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: Inclusion of diversified countries into BRICS has opened great opportunities for strategic partnerships among the member states and peoples in the political, economic and social sectors, according to the Ethiopian Institute of Foreign Affairs.

A roundtable meeting on strengthening cooperation between Ethiopian and Russian academic and think tank institutions under the BRICS framework was held in Addis Ababa today.

The meeting is in preparation for the upcoming BRICS Academic Forum to be held in Moscow next month, it was learned.

Opening the roundtable meeting, Institute of Foreign Affairs Executive Director Jafar Bedru said Ethiopia recognizes the importance of multilateralism and is dedicated to an active participation in the effort to comprehensive reform at architecture of global governance to make it more representatives, inclusive, and diversified.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) will commence nation-wide voter registration exercise from May 7 to May 27, 2024.

The EC has designated 1,068 centres for exercise across the country.

The centres comprise the Commission’s 268 district offices, 25 public universities, and 775 difficult-to-access Electoral Areas.

The centres in the difficult-to-access electoral areas have been created as part of EC’s efforts to ensure that all eligible voters would be registered for the 2024 polls.

Below are the difficult-to-access electoral areas in the Greater Accra Region with their start dates and end dates.

REGION: GREATER ACCRA

DISTRICT ELECTORAL AREA NAME REGISTRATION CENTRE NAME START DATE END DATE

GA SOUTH AKWEIMAN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MGT STUDIES. NEW APLAKU 7TH MAY, 2024 8TH MAY, 2024

AKWASA MA PRIM SCH. AKWEIMAN 9TH MAY, 2024 10TH MAY, 2024

KUTUNSE KOANS ESTATE, KUTUNSE A 9TH MAY, 2024 10TH MAY, 2024

GA WEST KWASHIEKUMA ANGLICAN CHURCH ARDEYMAN A 11TH MAY, 2024 12TH MAY, 2024

MAN
HEAN M/A PRIM SCH MANHEAN 1 A 13TH MAY, 2024 14TH MAY, 2024

GA CENTRAL AGAPE PENTECOST LORRY STATION GONSE 11TH MAY, 2024 12TH MAY, 2024

LEDZOKUKU NII ASHITEY AKONFRA C21 ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHURCH 8TH MAY 2024 9TH MAY 2024

KROWOR NII LAWEH ZIMMERMAN PRESBY CHAPEL NUNGUA 2 18TH MAY, 2024 19TH MAY, 2024

KPONE KATAMANSO BOSSAH FINGER OF GOD CHURCH KUBEKRO 8TH MAY 2024 9TH MAY 2024

TUNMAI VALLEY VIEW UNIVERSITY OYIBI 10th MAY 2024 11TH MAY 2024

MLITSAKPO ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHHURCH. ATAA SAKI 12TH MAY 2024 13TH MAY 2024

ONYAI-NSHI UCC DISTANCE LEARNING CENTRE.SANTEO 14TH MAY 2024 15TH MAY 2024

APPOLONIA MARANATHA METH. CHURCH KUSIBRI 16TH MAY 2024 17TH MAY 2024

ONUKPAI-ABU TMA PRIMARY SCHOOL GONTEN 18TH MAY 2024 19TH MAY 2024

GBETSELI PURE OIL CHURCH GBETSELI 21ST MAY 2024 22ND MAY 2024

SHAI-OSUDOKU ASUTSUARE KIP CONFERENCE HALL ASUTSUARE 7TH MAY, 2024 8TH MAY, 2024

AGORTOR LA PRIM SCH. AGORTOR 9TH MAY, 2024 10TH MAY, 2024

KORTORKOR PRESBY PRIM SCH. ADAKOPE
11TH MAY, 2024 12TH MAY, 2024

NINGO PRAMPRAM LALLUEKPO APOSTOLIC REVELATION CHURCH – DAWHENYA 9TH MAY, 2024 10TH MAY, 2024

MATAHEKO D/A JHS – MATHAHEKO 11TH MAY, 2024 12TH MAY, 2024

ADA WEST CAESARKOPE DC PRIMARY CAESARKOPE 7TH MAY, 2024 8TH MAY, 2024

AFIADENYIGBA DC PRIMARY AFIADENYIGBA 9TH MAY, 2024 10TH MAY, 2024

MATSEKOPE JHS MATSEKOPE 1 11TH MAY, 2024 12TH MAY, 2024

LOLONYA DC PRIMARY LOLONYA 1 13TH MAY, 2024 14TH MAY, 2024

WOKUMAGBE DC PRIMARY WOKUMAGBE 3 15TH MAY, 2024 16TH MAY,2024

AKPLABANYA JHS AKPLABANYA 17TH MAY,2024 18TH MAY,2024

ADA EAST KASSEH KASSEH CLINIC 1 11TH MAY, 2024 12TH MAY, 2024

PUTE PUTE JHS 1 13TH MAY, 2024 14TH MAY, 2024

AFLIVE/AZIZAKPE/ALORKPE DC PRIMARY ALORKPEM 15TH MAY,2024 16TH MAY, 2024

Source: Ghana News Agency

Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia on Wednesday, April 24, held discussions with Pope Francis at the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican.

The meeting focused on strengthening diplomatic relations between Ghana and the Vatican.

The key highlights of the meeting focused on Ghana’s political and socio-economic landscape, particularly on areas of healthcare and education.

The Vice President’s meeting with the Pope formed part of his working visit to Italy and the Vatican State.

This landmark visit underscores Ghana’s commitment to strengthening ties with the global community and fostering diplomatic relations.

The Vice President was accompanied by his wife, Hajia Samira Bawumia, and other government officials.

Dr. Bawumia’s visit to the Vatican symbolised Ghana’s dedication to engaging with global leaders on matters of mutual importance.

It was a cordial interaction between the two leaders, thus cementing the positive relations between Ghana and the Holy See.

The meeting underscored Ghana’s commitment to advancing i
ts socio-economic development and fostering partnerships with international stakeholders to achieve common goals.

Aside meeting with Pope Francis, Dr. Bawumia also engaged in talks with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States, and International Organisations.

The meeting is expected to strengthen the ties between Ghana and the Vatican and explore avenues for cooperation on various issues of mutual interest.

The two leaders shared their views on current international issues, particularly on security challenges facing West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.

Vice President Bawumia is expected to return to Ghana on Thursday, 25 April 2024.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Kadjebi-Asato Senior High School’s (KASEC) Rashid Bawa Assembly Hall has been selected as the venue for the Akan New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate (PC) primary poll.

The election is billed for Saturday, April 27 between 0700 hours and 1400 hours.

Some 635 delegates are expected to cast their ballots during the poll.

Mr. Merigah Abdul Sataru, Akan Constituency Secretary, NPP who disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), in an interview at Kadjebi in the Oti Region advised the aspirants to engage in ‘decent campaigns and obey the rules governing the election’.

‘Also, we should remember that we lost a brother that resulted in this primary’, he added.

Two candidates including; Tapha Tassah, an Accra-based private Legal Practitioner and Rabiu Awal, Akan Constituency NPP Chairman are vying for the PC position.

Alhaji Rashid Bawa, Ghana’s former High Commissioner to Nigeria was on December 2, 2023, elected as the Akan NPP PC for 2024 poll, but unfortunately, died on Thursday, March 14 in A
buja, Nigeria.

This has resulted in the current by-election to find a replacement.

The late Diplomat won that election with 492 votes as against 107 votes secured by Abubakar Safiwu Tassah, a younger brother of Lawyer Tapha and 17 votes garnered by Alhaji Tanko Issifu Yakubu.

Source: Ghana News Agency