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Liberian gov’t denies links to independent radio closure

October 26, 2012 Liberia Information Minister Lewis Brown

Popular independent Catholic Church-run Radio Veritas has been off the air for the second week, amidst accusations that the government had masterminded the silencing of a critical voice.

Information minister Lewis Brown held a news conference Thursday in Monrovia to say it was “just not fair” to accuse the government without first probing the closure of the radio.

S. Leone CSOs deliberate on int’l arms trade

October 26, 2012 Sierra Leone burns arms after 11-year civil war

Civil society groups in Sierra Leone have been discussing the international Arms Trade Treaty and how it relates to their country.

The West African nation went through 11 years (1991-2002) of civil war that left over 50,000 killed, scores amputated and basic social services destroyed, but has now enjoyed peace for a decade.

Guinea: Forum of military chiefs discuss elections security

October 26, 2012 Yayah Jammeh, Samuel Doe,Dadis Camara - Soldiers in politics

Former Beninese Army Major General Fernand Marcel Amoussou has reminded military forces of their obligation to remain neutral and respectful of electoral processes.

Amoussou, ex-Force Commander of the UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire, was speaking at a forum this week in the Guinean capital, Conakry, gathering military chiefs and election experts from 10 West African nations.

Ghana to deploy 5,000 soldiers for December polls

October 26, 2012 Ghana Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. Peter Blay

Ghanaian authorities are trying to ensure that security is water-tight for elections slated for 7 December by deploying some 5,000 soldiers across the country.

There are over 25,000 polling stations and about 10 million voters registered for the presidential and parliamentary polls.

Gambia drops charges against 2 journalists, death threat sent via email

October 25, 2012 The two Imprisoned Gambian Journalists

Gambian authorities have dropped charges against two journalists, who were arrested on 6 September this year for seeking permission to peacefully protest the execution of nine death row in-mates on the orders of President Yayha Jammeh.

Journalists Baboucarr Ceesay, first vice president of the Gambian Press Union and Abubacarr Saidykhan, a freelancer, were charged for “conspiracy to commit felony, seditious publication and incitement to violence” following their request to peacefully demonstrate.

 

Ghana Exhibits Home-made Products at Fair in Liberia

October 25, 2012 Quelques produits locaux du Ghana

Made-in-Ghana products are on exhibit in Liberia hosted by the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) in partnership with the Ghana Embassy near the Liberian capital, Monrovia and the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI).

The items on display include garments, beads, assorted drinks, foot wears, metal products, roofing materials and other handicrafts and manufactured goods.

Sierra Leone: OSIWA props CSOs’ role in upcoming polls

October 25, 2012 Joe Pemagbi, OSIWA Sierra Leone Office head

The Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) is lending support to a number of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to play effective participatory roles in Sierra Leone’s 17 November presidential and general elections.

According to Joe Hindovei Pemagbi, Country Officer and Head of office Sierra Leone, bodies benefiting from OSIWA support include the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to educate voters on the electoral process.

Africa can feed itself, earn billions, avoid food crises, says WB

October 25, 2012 A farmer tilling the land in E. Africa

A new World Bank report says Africa’s farmers can potentially grow enough food to feed the continent and avert future food crises if countries remove cross-border restrictions on food trade within the region.

The continent would also generate an extra US$20 billion in yearly earnings if African leaders can agree to dismantle trade barriers that blunt more regional dynamism.  

 

S. Leone: Standards Bureau seizes expired goods, seeks punitive law

October 25, 2012 S. Leone Health Minister Zainab Bangura

The Standards Bureau  has said it is working with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to develop a legal framework to combat the import and sale of sub-standard and expired goods on the local market.

The regulatory body said the lack of laws to punish defaulters is a major chalenge in deterring unscrupoulous businesses from engaging in the practice that endangers the lives of Sierra Leoneans.

 

Ghana: Party in election bribery scandal files court action

October 25, 2012 Prophet Daniel Nkansah, leader of NVP

The leader of the New Vision Party (NVP) has filed an injunction against the Electoral Commission to stop it from holding the 7 December presidential and general elections, claiming it was ‘not fit’ to hold the polls in the face of a bribery scandal.

Prophet Daniel Nkansah, the NVP candidate who admitted he bribed the two EC directors in a ‘set up’, asked the court to only allow the election if the EC sacks the officials allegedly involved in the scandal.