Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo fires WB, IMF– says they are enslaving Africa
African countries have been urged to utilize the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a means to achieve economic growth and break free from the historical and present-day challenges of colonialism, neocolonialism, and imperialism. The AfCFTA, which aims to create a single market for goods and services across the continent, provides an opportunity for African nations to enhance trade among themselves, boost their economies, and reduce dependency on external forces. The statement emphasizes the need for African countries to be cautious of potential recolonization efforts disguised as well-intentioned policies from international organizations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and the United Nations (UN). It suggests that some of these policies may come with certain conditions or restrictions that could hinder African nations’ ability to fully benefit from their resources and potential. According to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the treaties and conventions agreed upon by imperialist institutions before and after Africa’s independence were not designed with the goal of promoting African development. He argues that the current socio-economic and political structure, characterized by capitalism, neoliberal globalization, and cultural subjugation perpetuated by institutions such as the Bretton Woods institutions (IMF and World Bank), is a recipe for failure on the continent. Obasanjo’s statement suggests that these institutions, which have significant influence over African economies, may not prioritize or adequately address the unique challenges and needs of African nations. Instead, they may enforce policies that benefit global economic powers rather than promoting inclusive and sustainable development in Africa. His critique reflects a broader sentiment among African leaders and scholars who argue for the need for African countries to assert their economic sovereignty, challenge neocolonial practices, and seek alternative avenues for development. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is seen as one such avenue, empowering African nations to shape their economic destiny and reduce dependency on external forces. “The restructured socio-economic and political neocolonialism characterised by its underlining capitalism, neoliberal globalisation, and cultural subjugation of Africa by the Bretton Wood institutions is a recipe for continental failure,” he said. “ if African countries continue to depend on these instruments as the launch pad for their development, the Continent will, at last, fail regardless of its endowments.” “The rippling dividend is the mocking economic growth, abject poverty, starvation, joblessness and youth hopelessness.” Former President Obasanjo, an Eminent Fellow of the African Youth and Governance Convergence (AYGC), said this at the 25th Session of AYGC held at Mankessim in the Central Region. The seven-day event commenced on Saturday, August 12, with 65 delegates from 27 African countries, the United States of America, and Canada. The forum seeks to connect the youth to build one African identity, harness their potential to become responsible and make them participating citizens for sustainable development. It is also to equip them with the appropriate capacity, platforms, and responsiveness to demand their rights as a way of promoting social accountability, transparency, and equity. The Youth Bridge Foundation and partners put the programme together on the theme: “Advancing Youth Inclusive Governance, Peace, and Security: The Digital Innovation Factor.” The former President said the AfCFTA presented an opportunity to increase trade to ensure the prosperity of the respective countries. The trade area would lead to an increase in intra-African trade by $35 billion and reduce external imports by $10 billion yearly. It would also create more opportunities for the growth of small businesses, with the potential to lift some 30 million people out of extreme poverty. Regardless of the enormous benefits, he decried the lofty appetite for the Bretton Woods Institutions by African countries for combining lending with conditionality that promoted the ‘Washington Consensus’ doctrine of the ‘free market.’ Similarly, he lashed at leadership across the continent, saying: “The greatest failure of African leaders is the lack of full understanding of what being independent means and what it entails. “The reason the colonial powers were here and why they committed all those atrocities even matter. Independence meant hard work to serve ourselves and our interests better than the colonial power.” Limiting independence to freedom of speech, flying national flags, relaxing, and enjoying were wrong notions by early leaders in Africa, former President Obasanjo said. The early leaders in Africa forgot that their newly instituted political, legal, and neo-political systems were at our disadvantage. “It is important to rebrand and turn Africa around for the world to know that Africans are one and good people with natural resources and diverse culture and we need strong partnerships with the diaspora to do this.” “Let us build the human resources of Africa by extending a hand of friendship to them so that together we can help change the narrative of the continent, now and in the future.” Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com
I’ve not been President, but as V P, I’ve worked so hard and contributed significantly to the Devt of our country–DMB
I am always driven by public service, not the desire for personal gains,” said Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, as he addressed stakeholders of the governing New Patriotic Party in Donkorkrom, Afram Plains North constituency. While acknowledging that he has not yet held the position of president, Bawumia emphasized his significant contributions to Ghana’s development through his work in the Akufo-Addo government. He further noted that, “It is the reason I am offering myself, first to be elected flagbearer of our party, and then I can offer myself to the people of Ghana so that I can continue to contribute towards the transformation of our country,”. According to the vice president, he has done so much for the country. He said,”I have not been president, but as Vice President, I have worked so hard and contributed significantly to the development of our country through landmark policies I have initiated and spearheaded,” Among the policies that Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia highlighted are One Constituency-One Ambulance, Agenda 111 hospital, Digital Addressing System, digitization of the ports, Passport offices, DVLA, as well as the establishment of the Ghana.gov payment platform, implementation of the money interoperability system, and the e-Pharmacy platform. These initiatives have been aimed at enhancing healthcare delivery, improving government services, facilitating efficient payment systems, and leveraging technology for the benefit of the Ghanaian people. Dr Bawumia is running against nine other aspirants in the flagbearer race. The party has scheduled a super delegates conference on August 26, 2023, with the aim of narrowing down the number of aspirants to five ahead of the main primaries on November 4, 2023. This process will involve a selection process by the party’s super delegates, who will play a crucial role in deciding the party’s final candidates for the upcoming elections. Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com
Minister has not granted any interview or made any statement– Spokesperson
The Ministry of Education has refuted what they described as a “deliberate spread of false information and the misuse of media to cultivate negative sentiments against the Education Minister without recourse to their own professional tenets”. The statement further emphasized that the Ministry of Education has consistently provided textbooks to schools across the country. It called on the media to adhere to professional standards and verify information before publishing or broadcasting. The Ministry also warned against the deliberate spread of false information, stating that such actions undermine the government’s efforts to improve the education sector. It urged the public to disregard any reports or statements that are not officially released by the Ministry or its authorized spokespersons. The issue of textbook shortages in schools has been a longstanding concern in the country, and the Ministry has been working to address it. The government has implemented various initiatives to ensure that all schools have adequate textbooks, including the distribution of free textbooks to schools and the provision of funds for schools to purchase additional materials. The Ministry stated its commitment to continue working towards improving the education sector and called on the media and the public to support its efforts. It also urged individuals to report any instances of false information or misinformation to the appropriate authorities. The spreading of false information and the misuse of media platforms to create negative sentiments is a growing issue in many sectors, including education. The Ministry’s condemnation of such actions highlights the need for responsible journalism and the importance of verifying information before it is disseminated to the public. The statement said Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com
Soon she will catch up with her mother: Daria Sudnishnikova, who became pregnant at the age of 13, showed her grown-up daughter
Daria continues to get used to the role of a mother and shares the news of her parents’ everyday life on social networks. Today, a resident of Zheleznogorsk told subscribers about a pleasant event: little Emilia celebrates her birthday. Sudnishnikova’s daughter was three years old. The 17-year-old mother also posted pictures of the red-haired child. “How fast children grow, but she was just a baby”; “How big it is”; “Grow up a healthy, happy and obedient girl,” wish users of “Vkontakte”, noting that Emilia grows a copy of Daria. The child was given a bicycle Last year, Sudnishnikova graduated from high school. The girl admitted that the learning process was extremely difficult because of the worries about her daughter. In addition, Daria became the object of public criticism. Many openly condemned her for being pregnant at the age of 13. “The teachers wanted to deprive me of parental rights and send me to a children’s colony,” the girl shared. Recall that Daria called the father of her daughter’s friend, who at that time was only … 10 years. However, later genetic examination established: Emilia’s parent is a high school student. Later, the girl admitted that she had been abused. “My child will not know about the real father. But I’ll tell her when she’s at a more conscious age. Otherwise, then he will find out from left-wing people … It’s better from me,” said the schoolgirl. starhit.ru
Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises applicants to contact them for emergency
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement advising passport applicants to contact them in the case of an emergency. This directive aims to streamline communication and provide prompt assistance to those in urgent need. While the Ministry acknowledges that the current passport application process may cause frustration and inconvenience, they emphasize the importance of reserving direct communication for emergencies only. Applicants are urged to follow the regular channels and procedures for passport inquiries and updates. For non-emergency concerns or general inquiries about passport applications, applicants are encouraged to refer to the Ministry’s website or contact their local passport office for assistance. The Ministry assures the public that they are working diligently to address passport processing delays and enhance the overall application experience. This advisory comes as an effort to alleviate the Ministry’s overwhelmed communication channels due to the unprecedented number of passport applications and disruptions caused by the ongoing pandemic. By prioritizing emergency cases and essential services, the Ministry aims to provide more focused and efficient support where it is most urgently needed. Applicants are advised to exercise discretion when contacting the Ministry for emergency situations, ensuring that their cases genuinely require immediate attention. By doing so, the Ministry can better allocate its resources and staff towards addressing critical issues promptly. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges passport applicants to contact them only in the event of an emergency. Non-emergency concerns should be addressed through regular channels or local passport offices. The Ministry apologizes for any inconvenience caused by the current delays in passport processing and assures applicants of their commitment to resolving these issues as quickly as possible. Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com
Ghana Card the best the best way to ensure the integrity of the voter register— Jean Mensa
According to Electoral Commission chairperson Jean Mensa, using the Ghana card as the sole registration document for voters is the best way to ensure the integrity of the voter register by eliminating minors and foreigners. She stated that the guarantor system, which is currently used, has not been effective and therefore should not be included in the new constitutional instrument. The C.I. is currently being reviewed by parliament. Mrs. Mensa made these remarks during a briefing with journalists called ‘Let the Citizens Know’. Mrs. Mensa further argued that the decision to use the Ghana card as the source document for voter registration is based on the fact that it is now widely available and serves as a reliable form of identification. She emphasized that the Electoral Commission’s motivation behind the C.I. is solely to conduct elections that are credible, transparent, fair, and peaceful. According to Mrs. Mensa, the guarantor system currently used in voter registration is flawed and not foolproof. She argued that it is susceptible to abuse and can potentially allow illegal registrations by minors and foreigners. By relying on the Ghana card as the sole identification document for citizenship and age verification, the Electoral Commission aims to address these vulnerabilities and ensure the integrity of the voter register. “Our experience with the 2020 registration exercise showed that several minors and foreigners using the window of the guarantor system found their way onto our roll. “To rid the register of minors and foreigners in 2020, the Electoral Commission established the District Registration Review Committees (DRRCS) which worked for several weeks to delete the names of minors and foreigners from the register”. ‘It took substantial time and effort to expunge the names of illegal persons from our roll. We challenged some 40,000 minors and foreigners and expunged some 15,000 persons from the Register” Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com