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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.

 

Will Nigeria meet Bakassi ruling deadline?

October 8, 2012 Nigerian Pres. Goodluck Jonathan

With two days left for Nigeria to appeal the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) granting the Bakassi Peninsula to neighbouring Cameroon, anxiety is growing among Nigerians over whether their government will meet the deadline to appeal against the judgment.

Ahead of the 10 October deadline for Nigeria to seek review of the case, President Goodluck Jonathan last week set up a committee to advise the government on the way to pursue the review of the ICJ decision.

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.

Cote d’Ivoire eyes ‘green jobs’ to combat unemployment

October 5, 2012 Ivoirian Pres. Alassane Ouattara

In a bid to reduce the high unemployment rate in Cote d’Ivoire, authorities are exploring the creation of job opportunities that will attract the youths to enable government tackle the socio-economic challenges facing the country.

Billed “green jobs”, the initiative will cover garbage collection and its industrial processing as well as reforestation, among other employment opportunities that will ensure sustainable development and environmental protection.

Ghana battles growing cholera cases

October 5, 2012 Ghana's Health Min. Alban Bagbin

Ghana is recording an increase in the number of cholera cases and more deaths with several weeks left to the end of the rainy season in the West African nation.

According to the Ministry of Health, more than 100 affected persons have been admitted at the country’s main hospitals, especially in the capital.

Nigerians mix react to Saudi deportation of 1,000 female pilgrims

October 4, 2012 Muslims at the Hajj in Mecca

Though the Nigerian government has expressed displeasure over Saudi Arabia’s decision to deport some 1,000 Nigerian women who were en route to the pilgrimage to the Muslim Holy city of Mecca, a number of Nigerians hold a different view over the expulsion.

Visiting Mecca for the annual Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, provided a Muslim faithful has the finance and is in good health to make the pilgrimage.

Sierra Leone: Rights body releases mining town violence findings

October 4, 2012 A victim shot during the Bunbuna violence

Sierra Leone’s Human Rights Commission has released findings from a public inquiry into alleged gross violation of human rights in the mining town of Bunbuna, indicting the police for overreacting in quelling a violent strike at the local mine.

During the mine workers strike last April, violence erupted and  left one person killed and several others wounded in Bunbuna, Tonkolili District, in the north of Sierra Leone.

 

OSJI Official Speaks on Information Access, Nat’l Security

October 4, 2012 Maxwell Kadiri Associate legal officer OSJI

An Associate Legal Officer of the Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI), Maxwell Kadiri,     has said there is a growing recognition of the right to information as part of the practice of democracy in Africa.

He said while laws exists in this regard, implementation in practical terms has been the challenge because many governments feel the less the people know, the better for them to perpetuate themselves in office.

Ghana in partial denial of HRW report on abused mentally ill

October 3, 2012 Ghana's Health Min. Alban Bagbin

An official of Ghana’s Health Ministry has said a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report on the abuse of mentally ill persons in psychiatric institutions and spiritual healing centers was “not entirely true”.

The rights group claims that the Ghanaian government has done little to combat such abuse or to ensure that these people can live in the community, as is their right under international law.