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Liberia: Lawmakers Want Pres. Sirleaf Rescind Lower House Critique

October 11, 2012 Pres. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf

The House of Representatives in Liberia has requested President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to retract a statement she reportedly made against the lower house of parliament while in the United States recently.

The President reportedly accused the lawmakers of promoting personal rather than national interest, something the parliamentarians consider humiliating.

Nigeria lawmakers decry poor prison conditions

October 10, 2012 Prison Doors in Nigeria

Two members of the Nigerian parliament have added their voices to an outcry by stakeholders over the poor conditions of Nigeria’s prisons and the state of the country’s criminal justice system.

Joining the calls for urgent improvement of the prisons and justice system are Senator Umar Tambuwal, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Legal Matters and Human Rights and Beni Lar, Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary.

Malians split over new army post for ex-junta leader Sanogo

October 10, 2012 Mali's ex-junta leader Amadou Sanogo

Former military junta leader, Capitan Amadou Sanogo, has been appointed chairman of the army reform committee set up by the interim government.

The appointment comes on the heels of an international conference on the Malian crisis slated for 19 October in the capital, Bamako.

Sierra Leone: Ex-Minister Contests Libel Law Before High Court

October 10, 2012 Ex-Minister Dr. Julius Spencer

There has been no let up in the controversy over the constitutionality of Sierra Leone’s criminal and seditious libel laws contained in the Public Order Act of 1965.

Former Information Minister Dr. Julius Spencer has filed a constitutional challenge at the Supreme Court, questioning the constitutionality of the law.

Ghana: Wife quits ruling NDC husband Rawlings formed

October 10, 2012 Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Rawlings

The wife of Ghana’s former President Jerry John Rawlings, who is founder of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has quit the party.

Mrs. Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, Ghana’s longest serving First Lady, has said she and her husband have formed a new political party, the National Democratic Party (NDP), less than two months to presidential and parliamentary elections.

 

Liberia: Nobel laureate quits govt. over ‘poor’ graft fight

October 9, 2012 Nobel laureate Laymah Gbowee

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s approach to dealing with corruption and reconciliation got a scathing rebuke from her fellow Liberian Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Leymah Gbowee, as she resigns her post in Sirleaf’s government.

Speaking at her book launch in Paris, Ms Gbowee said she was resigning as head of the National Reconciliation Commission created by  Sirleaf  last year and that the Liberian leader has failed to fight corruption and nepotism.

 

Sierra Leone: Opposition SLPP files nominations, storms Freetown

October 9, 2012 SLPP partisans storm Freetown

Official campaigning has not been declared in Sierra Leone’s November polls, but the massive turnout of the opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) on Monday in Freetown, the capital, has left many wondering what the campaign period would be like.

The occasion was the submission of nominations for the presidential and parliamentary contests to the National Electoral Commission to fulfill NEC's requirements.

Ghana: Parties debate free senior high education ahead of polls

October 9, 2012 NDC Leader Pres. John Mahama

A spirited debate is underway in Ghana over whether or not there is a need for free senior high school education and general education policies ahead of presidential and general elections in December.

This issue has taken center stage in the campaign messages of the various political parties in the country, with the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and lead opposition National Patriotic Party (NPP) in heated debate.

 

S. Leone: EU Observers urge media, politicians to eschew ‘hate speech’

October 8, 2012 EU delegation meets Pres. Ernest Bai Koroma

The European Union Observer Mission to Sierra Leone has called on local journalists and political parties to refrain from the use of hate speech to ensure a peaceful election in the post-war West African nation.

The EU mission made the call at a weekend press conference officially launching its observation of next month’s Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Council elections.

Ex-Gbagbo General Goes on Trial in Abidjan

October 8, 2012 Gen. Brunot Dogbo Ble

Former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo sits in a cell of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague awaiting trial, but back home the trial of one of his loyal military commanders kicks off in the capital, Abidjan.

General Dogbo Ble, former Commander of the Republican Guard, was a prominent figure in last year’s post-election violent conflict that engulfed Abidjan and left scores dead.