News Guide Africa

Category: News

  • Niger military junta announces interim government

     

     

    Niger coup leaders

    Adnan Adams Mohammed 

     

    Twenty-one names of Nigeriens, made up of both security personnels and civilians, have been announced by the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Fatherland (CNSP) military leadership this morning as new ministers of Niger. 

     

    Mr. Al-Amin Zain Ali Mahman was named as the Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance and General Salifu Mody as the Minister of State and Minister of National Defense. 

     

    This comes four days after the expiration of ultimatum given by ECOWAS to the Niger military junta to reinstate Mohammed Bazuom as the legitimate President. 

     

    The announcement of new ministers could help the junta leaders gain the confidence of the people of Niger as new ministers will help in the smooth administration of the country.

     

    Below is the full list of ministers:

     

    1. The Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance: Mr. Al-Amin Zain Ali Mahman

     

    1. Minister of State and Minister of National Defense: General Salifu Modi

     

    1. Minister of State, Minister of Interior, Public Security and Territorial Administration: Brigadier General Mohamed Tomba

     

    1. Minister of Youth and Sports: Colonel Major Abdel Rahman Amadou

     

    1. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Nigerians Abroad: Mr. Bakari U Sangari

     

    1. Minister of Public Health, Population and Social Works: Doctor Colonel Major Jarba Hakimi

     

    1. Minister, Director of the Office of the President of the National Council for the Protection of the Homeland: Dr. Somana Boubaker

     

    1. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock: Mr. Mohamed Haj Othman

     

    1. Minister of Higher Education, Research and Technological Innovation: Professor Mohamedou Seydou

     

    1. Minister of National Education, Literacy, Vocational Education and the Advancement of National Languages: Ms. Elizabeth Sharif

     

    1. Minister of Transport and Equipment: Colonel Salisu Mehman Salisu

     

    1. Minister of Water, Sanitation and Environment: Colonel Mizama Abdullah

     

    1. Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Keeper of Seals: Mr. Ali Daouda

     

    1. Minister of Public Service, Labor and Employment: Mrs. Aisha Abdullah Tondi

     

    1. Minister of Urban Planning and Housing: Mr. Salisu Tahiru Amado

     

    1. Minister of Humanitarian Action and Disaster Management: Ms. Isa Lawan Wandarama.

     

    1. Minister of Petroleum, Mines and Energy: Mr. Mohamed Mustafa Barki

     

     18- Minister of Crafts and Tourism: Madame Geshin Agishata Atta

     

    1. Minister of Communications, Post and Digital Economy: Mr. Sidi Mohamed Gallio

     

    1. The Minister of Commerce and Industry: Mr. Seidu Asman

     

      21- Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister in charge of Finance: Mr. Moumoni Boubacar Saido

  • Julius Debrah: the secret behind John Mahama’s resilience 

    Julius Debrah in strategic talks with John Mahama

     

    Sponsored by Friends of Julius Debrah

     

    Former Chief of Staff to the former President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, Julius Debrah, (the secret behind the NDC’s flagbearer strength and success).

     

    JD is mostly referred to as the most affable, affectionate, hardworking, strategic and tactical brain, non-discriminative high political personality, very charitable and supportive.

    Julius Debrah and John Mahama

    His clout and command of power in Ghana’s political landscape is enviable and undisputably incomparable.

     

    A mention of his name, immediately makes all present think about ‘humility’. It doesn’t matter about your age, class or status, he is always ready to and help out.

     

    JD, born on 24 April 1966 (age 57) is anative of Obomeng Kwahu from the Eastern Region.

    Julius Debrah
    Julius Debrah

    Academically, a product of Mpraeso Secondary School, Achimota Secondary School and University of Ghana where he obtained Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology and Sociology.

     

    A great and successful business player and unrelenting politician. A three times Parliamentary Candidate for the NDC in a no go area of the NPP, yet, he held the battle front for the NDC party during the crucial times of the party when the was first witnessing dreadful opposition from the treacherous Akufo-Addo, Atta-Kyea, and the likes.

    Julius Debrah
    Julius Debrah

    Despite, not winning the seat, his hard work, resilience and loyalty to the NDC were noticed and was therefore called to serve the party further in the capacity of Regional minister of Eastern and Greater Accra.

     

    He later served the local government ministry remarkably and later called to be the Chief Servant of the First Gentleman of the land as Chief of Staff.

     

    His leadership restructured and positioned Ghana’s Tourism industry as a key contributor to the economy while the industry players were heavily supported to meet the world class standards when he CEO position of the Ghana Tourism Authority.

     

    His magical calmness, noble servant, strategic and tactical leadership and humility established the most cordial and undying relationship between him and his boss, John Mahama, even throughout this periods of seven years in opposition.

     

    His servantship to John Mahama is above extraordinary.

     

    Such values is what NDC needs now to backup the footsteps and softings the hearts of the undecided middle class, youth, and classless voters to consider the NDC as the ultimate choice.

     

    Adnan Adams Mohammed (Leader of Friends of Julius Debrah)

     

  • Watch Video: Nigeriens cheers their new military leaders..as coup leader speaks to the nation at their great stadium

    Niger coup leaders

     

    Adnan Adams Mohammed

    The great stadium of the city of Niamey, Niger capital town was filled beyond its capacity with civilians to cheer their new military leaders as they speak to the nation in outdoor event for the first time since announcing a military takeover of seat of government a week ago.

     

    Watch Videos from the event:

     

     

     

    More videos from the event

     

     

     

  • 2023 AOW to discuss M&A opportunities 

    Africa Oil Week

     

    Mergers and acquisitions in 2023 might not be keeping up with last year’s pace, but Africa continues to generate its fair share of deals with recent examples including The $830m acquisition of Galp Angola by enti energias and Aker Energy AS acquired by AFC Equity Investment Ltd.

    While Independents lead M&A activity, International Oil Companies (IOCs) are catching up, rationalizing portfolios, and targeting competitive African frontiers. However, for Africa-focused investors, accessing capital has become more challenging with lenders moving away from financing oil & gas projects and stricter ESG requirements. Operators and independents must now adapt, and seek innovative ways to remain competitive and access capital.

    This year’s Finance and M&A Forum at Africa Oil Week 2023, sponsored by Herbert Smith Freehills, invites advisors, traders, financial institutions, and operators to share knowledge on debt and equity financing across Africa, with practical examples from successful partners and projects operating in challenging jurisdictions.

  • Guinea, Mali and Burkina Faso support Niger coup…warn against any foreign military intervention

    Niger coup leaders

    Adnan Adams Mohammed

     

    Mali and Burkina Faso military Juntas have declared support to the coup leaders in Niamey, Niger.

     

    By this, they are tactically protecting and instituting a new era of military leaders across the Francophone subsaharan region.

     

    In a statement issued in response to resolutions of the ECOWAS Head of States emergency meeting held on Saturday, Mali affirmed that, they stand together with Burkina Faso to defend Niger and further warned that any foreign military intervention in Niamey will be considered a declaration of war on both nations with Niger.

     

    “I warn that any military intervention against Niger will be considered as a declaration of war against Burkina Faso and Mali,” Col. Abdoulaye Maiga, State Minister for Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, Mali military government juxtaposed.

     

    The announcement was in response to the outcome of a summit by regional bloc ECOWAS that gave a 7-day deadline to Niger’s coup leaders to free detained president Mohamed Barzoum and restore civilian rule or face consequences, with military force an option being considered.

     

    Mali further denounced the persistent sanctions by the ECOWAS upon the three countries terming the illegal.

     

    “The transitional governments of Burkina Faso and Mali, One: have expressed their fraternal solidarity of the people of Mali and Burkina Faso with their brothers in Niger who have decided of their own accord to take their destiny in hand and to assume their sovereignty. Two: Denounce the persistence of the regional organisations to apply sanctions that aggravate the suffering of the population and imperil the spirit of PanAfricanism. Three: Refuse to apply these illegal, illegitimate and inhumane sanctions against the Nigerien people and authorities,” said Col. Abdoulaye Maiga. The declaration came from Col. Abdoulaye Maiga, State minister for Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, Mali junta, who spoke on the state television network ORTM.

     

    The nations are run by military governments in West and Central Africa, where there have been nine successful or attempted coups since 2020.

     

     

  • Niger junta to face tough time as Nigeria cuts electricity supply

    Adnan Adams Mohammed

     

    Information just received indicates that Nigeria has cut electricity supply to Niger following coup d’etat.

     

    The power cut to Niger is one of the blows the ECOWAS bloc plans to hit at the military junta to deter them to release power to civilian administration.

    Niger junta suffer power cut from Nigeria

    The coup d’etat, which has ignited fear in many ECOWAS Heads of State as they feel threatened and uncertain of their fate and also shaken the root of France emperial colonialism on the Francophone subsaharan countries.

     

    However, many have reacted to the power cut as they feel Nigeria is making a hasty big mistake as their hydroelectricity generation dam source its water from Niger.

     

    “Nigeria has a joint agreement with Niger to provide electricity in exchange that the upstream neighbor will not obstruct the flow of water to the country’s hydroelectric Dams in Jebba, Kainji, Niger State”, a Twitter page by name Official Papa Lily commented. “Our power generation will drop, if Niger reacts to this power outage.”

     

     

    Below are some tweets:

     

    The Egalitarian

    “They don’t know because they don’t read. After the war, Niger will build a big dam and release water as it pleases downstream. Either as flood or in trickles. Niger will loose.”

     

    Chief Numso

    “If Niger Dams the Kanji Dam we are actually finished, we are actually making a mistake we will regret badly.”

     

    Yussif Nasir Ahmad

    “It is finally time for them to start thinking inwards. They should invest in their capacity to generate electricity for themselves. So that Nigeria will supply Nigerians the electricity for Nigerians to use. Already, the energy supply in Nigeria is below deficit.”

     

  • Eni partners support host community with scholarships for vocational and technical training

    Eni Ghana on behalf of its OCTP partners, Vitol Upstream Ghana Ltd (Vitol) and Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), together with Volontariato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo (VIS), have handed over scholarship packages to over 1,000 students in 14 communities in the Ellembelle District, namely Atuabo, Bakanta, Ngalekye, Sanzule (including Anwolakrom fishing area), Krisan, Eikwe, Anokyi, Ngalekpole, Asemda, Baku, Anyinase, Esiama, Half Assini and Nkroful.

     

    The scholarship is part of Eni Ghana and its OCTP Partners’, Vitol and GNPC’s Local Development Project to promote inclusive economic development in the Ellembelle district. It covers tuition fees, registration fees, books and stationery, food, tools and equipment, accommodation, transportation and monthly allowances for the students who are enrolled in Vocational and Technical courses ranging from Fashion, Catering, Building Technology, Electricals and Welding.

     

    The scholarship package is designed in collaboration with the World Bank as part of the sustainability initiatives that the OCTP partners are implementing in the OCTP Project Area of Influence. Ellembelle District Assembly played a major role in the design and implementation of the program.

     

    VIS is a non-governmental organization that deals with development cooperation and international solidarity and an educational agency that promotes and organizes awareness-raising, education, training activities for development and global citizenship.

     

    Eni has been present in Ghana since 2009 with its upstream activity and currently accounts in the country for an equity production of 30,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

     

     

  • African countries must have a say in trading of mineral resources – Mireku Duker

    Africa Natural Resources

     

     

    Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources in charge of mining, George Mireku Duker has called for Africans to be actively involved in the trading of the natural resources exploited from the continent.

     

    He called on African governments to help build the capacity of their citizens to take advantage of the resources bequeathed them to help in the development of their respective countries.

     

    “Governments must help build the capacities of citizens to take advantage of Local Content policies in the sector,” he said.

     

     

    The Minister gave the advice during a panel discussion on the topic “Balancing Resources & Responsibility: Collaborative Strategies for Sustainable and Responsible Mining,” at the maiden Egypt Mining Forum hosted by the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum & Mineral Resources in Cairo.

     

    He explained that various legal and regulatory frameworks “need to be stable over a reasonable period in order not to deter investors”.

     

    He charged resource rich African countries to consider adding value to the resources they mine, and not always focusing on the export of the raw minerals as currently happens.

     

     

    “There is the need for African mineral resources producing countries to be conscious of value addition and take advantage of continental frameworks such as AfCFTA to trade amongst themselves and have a common voice and say in pricing and trading of the world’s Minerals,” he explained.

     

    He told investors at the conference that “Ghana as a bastion of democracy and a preferable destination for mining investment on the continent.”

     

    George Mireku Duker, who is also MP for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, led a Ghanaian delegation to the conference.

     

    The forum seeks to consolidate Egypt’s mineral resources discoveries over a century and bring together African countries and mining companies towards a sustainable future with shared values to the citizenry.

  • ECOWAS Heads of State meets on Niger coup…give one week ultimatum to reinstate Bazuom

    Adnan Adams Mohammed

    Heads of State of ECOWAS member countries have concluded an emergency meeting held at Abuja to discuss the Niger Coup d’etat.

    In their resolutions, the meeting attended by 12 Heads of State including representative of the ousted Niger President, Mohammed Bazuom, agreed on a land and air border closure and no a no fly zone decision be immediately implemented again the military junta.

    Also, Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS Member States and Niger; Freeze of all service transaction including utility services; and Freeze of assets of the Republic of Niger in ECOWAS Central Banks were some of the tough decisions taken against the military junta.

    They were contained in a communique signed and issued at the end of the emergency meeting held yesterday.

    Below are the full resolutions:

    10 a. Affirm that His Excellency President Mohamed BAZOUM remains the legitimate elected President and Head of State of The Republic of Niger
    recognized by ECOWAS, the African Union and the International community; In this regards, only official acts of President Bazoum or his
    duly mandated officials will be recognized by ECOWAS;
    b. Condemn in the strongest terms the attempted overthrow of constitutional order in Niger and the illegal detention of His Excellency President
    Mohamed Bazoum, President and Head of State of Niger, as well as members of his family and Government;
    c. Call for the immediate release and reinstatement of President Mohamed Bazoum as President and Head of State of the Republic of Niger, and for the full restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger;
    d. Reject any form of resignation that may purportedly come from His Excellency President Mohamed Bazoum;
    e. Consider the illegal detention of President Bazoum as a hostage situation and hold the authors of the attempted coup d’état solely and fully responsible for the safety and security of His Excellency President Mohamed Bazoum, as well as members of his family and Government;
    f. In the event the Authority’s demands are not met within one week, take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of
    Niger. Such measures may include the use of force; To this effect,the Chiefs of defense staff of ECOWAS are to meet immediately;
    g. Hold accountable all those responsible for violence and terror against lives and properties of innocent citizens and residents;
    h. Condemn the pronouncement of support by foreign governments and foreign private military contractors;
    i. Express appreciation to the various governments and partners for their stance and solidarity with ECOWAS;
    j. Appoint and dispatch a special representative of the Chair of the Authority to Niger immediately to deliver the demands of the Authority;
    k. In the meantime, the following measures are to be applied with immediate effect:
    1. Closure of land and air borders between ECOWAS countries and Niger;
    2. Institution of ECOWAS no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger;
    3. Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS Member States and Niger;
    4. Freeze of all service transaction including utility services;
    5. Freeze of assets of the Republic of Niger in ECOWAS Central Banks;
    6. Freeze of assets of the Niger State and the State Enterprises and Parastatals in Commercial Banks;
    7. Suspension of Niger from all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly, EBID and BOAD;
    8. Travel ban and asset freeze for the military officials involved in the coup attempt. The same applies to their family members and the civilians who accept to participate in any institutions or government established by these military officials;
    9. Calls on WAEMU and all other regional bodies to implement this decision.
    l. Express appreciation to His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President and Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the manner in
    which he has been conducting the affairs of the community since his election as Chair of the ECOWAS Authority.

    Done at Abuja, this 30th day of July 2023.

    FOR THE AUTHORITY

  • WB outcry worsening food security and poverty in Ghana due to untamed inflation 

     

    Adnan Adams Mohammed

     

    The World Bank has said Ghana’s hyperinflationary trend being experienced by economy since 2022 has heightened food security and poverty levels.

     

    The Bank is alarmed with the rate of increase in prices across all consumer categories, which are significantly impacting the living standards of Ghanaians, especially the poor.

     

    The latest Ghana Economic Update released by the World Bank, last week, took cognizance of how the Ghanaian economy is grappling with a severe inflation crisis that has unleashed devastating consequences on the vulnerable. It further indicated that, the erosion of purchasing power resulting from inflation has led to a decline in living standards for Ghanaian households.

     

    “In 2022, the minimum wage in Ghana saw a 10 percent increase. However, this increase was overshadowed by the staggering inflation rate, causing real incomes of minimum-wage workers to plummet by nearly 44 percent. Consequently, the average purchasing power of these workers declined by 15.7 percent throughout the year”,

     

    The report reveals that 20 percent of the population experienced a significant loss of purchasing power, amounting to 16.1 percent in 2022.

     

    “Surprisingly, the richest 20 percent also suffered a notable decline in purchasing power, losing 15.5 percent. While the wealthy lost more purchasing power in absolute terms, the impact was less burdensome compared to their total expenditure.”

     

    The Economic Update highlights that average prices for all Classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose (COICOP) categories experienced a stark increase in 2022 compared to the previous year.

     

    While non-food inflation was notably high, at an average of 29 percent in 2022, food prices soared even higher, escalating by an average of 34 percent.

     

    This disparity has disproportionately affected the poor, who allocate a larger share of their budget to food and are thus more severely impacted by the rising prices.

     

    Simulations conducted in the report indicate that approximately 850 thousand Ghanaians were pushed into poverty in 2022 due to the combination of rising prices and the loss of purchasing power.

     

    Furthermore, food security in the country deteriorated considerably. The number of food insecure individuals jumped from 560,000 to 823,000 in the last quarter of 2022.

     

    By the end of the year, one-quarter of the population were classified as food insecure, a trend expected to persist into 2023.

     

    To combat the adverse effects of inflation on food security, the World Bank’s Ghana Economic Update highlighted several policy recommendations.

     

    “The government must prioritize investments in agriculture, including research, development, and technology transfer, to enhance productivity, reduce production costs, and improve food quality and safety. Diversification of income sources, improved connectivity, and market access can help households better cope with shocks and seize opportunities.”

     

    The report additionally emphasised the importance of investing in climate-smart agriculture initiatives.

     

    Furthermore, the Economic Update recommends allocating resources towards developing rural infrastructure, including better roads, irrigation channels, and improved primary education.

     

    To alleviate the immediate impact of high food prices on vulnerable households, the report emphasised the need to enhance social protection programs.