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Excitement builds ahead of the MANCOSA Mid-Year Graduation Ceremonies As we approach the second half of the year, the excitement starts to build up at tertiary institutions as they prepare for their Mid-Year Graduation Ceremonies. “We cannot underestimate the achievements of these graduates,” says Professor Kiveshni Naidoo, Academic Director at MANCOSA. She adds that these …
Cabinet says it welcomes the adoption of measures needed to “recalibrate” the health system and accelerate National Health Insurance (NHI) reforms.
What is an influencer agreement? A social media influencer is a user on social media who has established credibility in a specific industry. These content creators have access to a large audience and can share information and content to persuade others through their authenticity and reach. An influencer agreement is a contract between a brand …
Artificial pitch built in Kebbi, a state in northwestern Nigeria; another being installed further south in Ugborodo, in Delta State; projects supported by the FIFA Forward Programme (https://www.FIFA.com).
“Before it became a career, I just played football for fun. Farming was my main job. I had to finish work on the farm before I could go and play football. The only goal I had in life was to have my own farm.”
Reported in the Nigerian press, those words belong to Porto and Nigeria full-back Zaidu Sanusi, who hails from the state of Kebbi. They could, however, belong to any number of young people who live in this northwestern corner of Nigeria, which is home to 4.4 million people and lies on the borders with Niger and Benin. It is a part of the world where football is secondary in importance to other matters, but where talented players like Sanusi are not in short supply.
It is no surprise, then, that Birnin Kebbi, the capital of Kebbi, was chosen back in 2020 as the site for the construction of an artificial football pitch that is now available for young boys and girls to use. Meanwhile, a second pitch is under construction in Ugborodo, situated further to the south. Undertaken by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), these two ambitious projects have received around USD 2 million in funding from FIFA through its Forward Programme.
The main goal of the programme, which is now into its third cycle, is the growth of football around the world. Forward 3.0 (https://apo-opa.info/3VWIiPy) is giving the game's global governing body the chance to redouble its efforts and lay down ever more solid foundations for promoting this growth, with the construction of facilities an important lever in supporting the whole process.
“The aim is simply to develop football in the region,” said Alhadji Abubakar Ladan, NFF representative for the state of Kebbi. “Of the seven states in the northwestern region [Nigeria has 36 states in all], Kebbi has the largest number of amateur teams. Even so, there is no question that it also has fewer football facilities than the rest. The NFF is aware of the efforts being made to develop football here, but these efforts are being held back by the lack of facilities. This artificial pitch is a boost and a push in the right direction.”
It has certainly proved a source of motivation and delight for local young footballers, who have made it their second home as they work on the skills they hope will one day make them Super Falcons and Super Eagles. A unique pitch flanked by a stand that is regularly filled with enthusiastic supporters, it is now the scene of friendlies, competitive matches and training sessions.
“Football used to be just a street sport for us, so we're delighted to be able to play on this wonderful pitch,” said Zeynup Dauda, a teenager from Birnin Kebbi. “This sport means a lot to me. I tend to get a bit bored at home, but when I'm on the pitch, it's magical. I forget everything. My ultimate dream would be to play for a big team in a big stadium and on a big pitch. I want to play all over the world. I want to play for the whole nation.”
Zaidu Sanusi has shown the way for his home region and has proved that nothing is impossible, that there are pathways running from the street to the football pitch, between farms and the world's greatest stadiums, and between dreams and reality.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of FIFA.
Contact for African media:
AfricanMedia@fifa.org
What does a corporate lawyer do? In short, a corporate lawyer is responsible for negotiating, drafting or reviewing agreements, terms and conditions, finance terms and other documents of a business nature. Company law is the body of law that governs the rights, relations, obligations and conduct of persons, companies and businesses. Businesses can be run …
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The number of people struggling with everything from depression to acute anxiety, burnout and even addiction is increasing exponentially in South Africa. This is due to an ever-growing number of factors outside of one’s control – from load shedding to worries about job losses, climbing interest rates, food prices and even crime and violence. Jared …
What is it, why does it exist and why is it important? The draft Conduct of Financial Institutions Bill (COFI) was released for public comment in 2018. COFI was drafted in conjunction with the Financial Sector Regulators Act of 2017 (FSR Act) as part of an extensive reform of the South African financial services legal …
Most of the affected learners live in St Mark’s, about 26 kilometres from Isikhoba Nombewu Technical School
What is Corporate Law? Corporate law is a complex and dynamic field that plays a crucial role in economic and social development. Corporate and Commercial Law involves the interactions and transactions within and between: Companies and other juristic entities and individuals, Shareholders and companies, and Shareholders of a company (themselves). Corporate law can be described …
The Human Rights Council this afternoon concluded its thirty-sixth special session on the human rights impact of the ongoing conflict in Sudan, adopting a resolution in which it decided that the mandate of the designated Expert of the High Commissioner on human rights in Sudan should, with immediate effect, also include detailed monitoring and documentation of, and reporting to the Human Rights Council on, all allegations of human rights violations and abuses since 25 October 2021, including those arising directly from the current conflict.
In the resolution on the human rights impact of the ongoing conflict in Sudan (A/HRC/36/L.1) as orally amended, adopted by a vote of 18 in favour, 15 against, and 14 abstentions, the Council, welcoming the appointment by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights of Radhouan Nouicer as his designated Expert on human rights in the Sudan on 16 December 2022: expressed its grave concern at the serious outbreak of conflict and escalation of violence in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which could undermine the progress made towards a peaceful transition to democracy and stability in Sudan. The Council called for an immediate cessation of violence by all parties, without pre-conditions, the rapid establishment of full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access, the rehabilitation of critical basic infrastructure, a negotiated and peaceful resolution to the conflict on the basis of inclusive dialogue, and the recommitment of all parties with the people of Sudan to return to its transition towards a civilian-led government.
The Council condemned all reported violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, including reported acts of sexual and gender-based violence, committed since the start of hostilities by all parties to the conflict across the country and called upon the parties to the conflict in Sudan to demonstrate the utmost restraint and to refrain from further violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law. It also called upon all parties to the conflict to cease any measure that exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, and to rapidly allow and facilitate the full, safe and unhindered passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need.
In the resolution, the Council condemned any attacks on humanitarian and health workers, and on the premises and members of international organizations, civil society organizations and the diplomatic community in Sudan, and urged all parties to the conflict in Sudan to respect and protect civilians, including those who were humanitarian workers and health workers, and civilian infrastructure, and to allow and facilitate full, safe and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid into and throughout Sudan.
The Council decided that the mandate of the designated Expert of the High Commissioner should, with immediate effect, also include detailed monitoring and documentation of, and reporting to the Human Rights Council on, all allegations of human rights violations and abuses since the 25 October 2021, including those arising directly from the current conflict, as well as a specific focus on prevention of further such violations and abuses from occurring. The resolution requested the High Commissioner, with the assistance of the designated Expert on human rights in Sudan, to present to the Human Rights Council, at its fifty-fourth and fifty-seventh sessions, an oral update on the human rights situation in Sudan.
The results of the vote were as follows:
In favour (18): Argentina, Belgium, Chile, Costa Rica, Czechia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Montenegro, Paraguay, Romania, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and United States.
Against (15): Algeria, Bolivia, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Gambia, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, Qatar, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, and Viet Nam.
Abstention (14): Bangladesh, Benin, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Honduras, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Maldives, Nepal, South Africa, and Uzbekistan.
The Council adopted the report of the special session ad referendum.
The special session started this morning with a statement by Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who strongly condemned this wanton violence, in which both sides had trampled international humanitarian law, notably the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution. He said it was essential that both parties urgently committed to an inclusive political process and to a negotiated peace. Mr. Türk said the Human Rights Council had called this special session to express its urgent concern for the rights and lives of Sudan's people. He urged all States with influence in the region to encourage by all possible means the resolution of this crisis.
The fifty-third regular session of the Human Rights Council will be held from 19 June to 14 July 2023.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Ekurhuleni community wants unsafe and unhygienic chemical toilets replaced with flushing ones
Legislators have recommended that accounting officers found to be in breach of the law be dismissed from service.
The hard-hitting recommendation follows debate on a report presented by the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (Local Government), Hon. Martin Ojara Mapenduzi on the Report of the Auditor General for the Financial Year 2021/2022.
The report that focused on 27 district local governments, three cities, four divisions and five municipal councils was presented during plenary chaired by Speaker Anita Among on Wednesday, 10 May 2023.
In its findings, the report pinned some district accounting officers on gross negligence and recommended that the Permanent Secretary / Secretary to the Treasury hold them personally liable and reprimand them for failing to perform their duties and causing the return of funds to the Consolidated Fund.
Hon. Joseph Ssewungu, the Kalungu West County MP said: “The idea that once an accounting officer is implicated, he is transferred to another work station is making these officers think that they are invincible.”
Adjumani District Woman Representative, Hon. Jesca Ababiku, proposed that apart from holding the accounting officers responsible, other line ministries should also be held liable. She gave an example of the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development Programme where the lands ministry delayed in planning and delivering plans for the projects.
According to the report, 35 local government votes considered were warranted a total sum of Shs1,278.2 billion equivalent to 21.3 per cent of the total warrants to the local governments' budget during the financial year under review.
The above is exclusive of local revenues and out of that, only Shs1,163.9 billion was expended, representing 91 per cent absorption of the budget released. This led to the return of Shs114 billion to the Consolidated Fund as a result of failure to absorb the resources.
Parliament has consistently decried low budget absorption as one of the hindrances to service delivery in local governments with some MPs faulting the finance ministry for delaying to disburse funds on time.
The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga, implored the House to carefully analyse the situation that local governments find themselves in, opining that one of the contributors to the problem is centralisation.
“We need to have a potted conversation as to whether de-centralisation is viable. We said we were taking services closer to the people but we instead took corruption,” he said.
“I want to invite this House to re-think the whole idea of devolution of powers. We need very serious reforms including through legislation,” he added.
He called upon MPs to become active on their district roads committees, emphasising that it is one of the best grounds to carry out oversight and prevent corruption by technical people.
The Aruu North County MP, Hon. Santa Okot, reminded the House that issues of returning money to the Consolidated Fund was not a recent matter and queried why the Government was not finding any solutions to the problems yet the Auditor General's report always has the same recommendations.
Soroti City MP, Hon. Jonathan Ebwalu, informed the House that cities are still operating with municipality budgets and are borrowing equipment from the municipal as a result of underfunding.
The Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development (General Duties), Hon. Henry Musasizi, said that the money returned to the Consolidated Fund is spent on other priorities and cannot be ringfenced for the same previous appropriation.
Musasizi pledged to present a comprehensive report from the central and local governments on money returned.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
Children fleeing the violence in Sudan are arriving in South Sudan and Egypt showing signs of acute distress and shock with some withdrawn, others angry and some becoming aggressive, said Save the Children.
Since fighting started on 15 April, more than 700,000 people have fled their homes in Sudan which was already facing its worst ever humanitarian crisis due to the collision of conflict, natural disasters, disease outbreaks and economic degradation and one third of the population needing assistance.
Over the past month, more than 150,000 people have crossed into Egypt, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Chad, according to the UN, with reports of long waits at the crossings, limited food, water and sanitation facilities.
Save the Children teams are providing mental health and psychosocial support and well as essential supplies to families arriving at border points in South Sudan and Egypt, some of whom have spent up to 15 days on perilous and costly journeys to seek safety.
At Renk on South Sudan's northeastern border with Sudan, Save the Children is providing food and helping to trace families and reunify children separated from their families.
Up to 45,000 people are reported to have fled into South Sudan from Sudan, some returnees who had left South Sudan previously to escape conflict.
Micah Yakani, a Save the Children South Sudan Child and Youth Protection Coordinator, said many children were very stressed when they arrived and warned of an increase in hunger and malnutrition due to food shortages at the crossing point.
“Children are very stressed This is seen through unusual behaviour such as fighting each other while some are withdrawn and stay alone. Adolescent children are also manifesting violent behaviours such as anger, desperation, talking aggressively.
“The hot meals being provided at the transit centres are not enough for everyone and many families are going without food. We're also seeing sign of trauma among children as most of the families are staying under the hot sun with no shade or shelter. The few shades we have cannot accommodate everyone.
“Water shortages are leading to violent commotions between women at the transit center and we fear the situation might get worse as the transit centre is completely full and many families are sheltering by the road side.”
At least 60,000 people have fled into Egypt from Sudan, with most families reaching Wadi Karkar, a bus station near Aswan in southern Egypt where Save the Children is supporting refugees before they move onto other locations in the country.
Laila Toema, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Technical Advisor at Save the Children Egypt, said:
“Families spend two to three hours at the bus stop. During this time, we try to create safe spaces for children to play and organise activities to help parents manage the stress.
“In the first week, we have provided mental health support to about 127 children and caregivers. The families we meet have often gathered only a few belongings before fleeing. They need nappies, food, water. The wait can last a few hours, it often gets very hot, and most children are tired. Some of them show signs of acute distress, or anxiety. One of the mothers, for example, refused to let her child come off the bus to join our child-friendly space, fearing for her child's safety.
“We get different reactions from children. Some of them are still in shock, others express anxiety and many parents seem to be in shock and refuse to think of themselves as ‘displaced'.”
With its partner Egyptian Red Crescent, Save the Children has distributed food parcels to 10,000 people at the border, 1,000 first aid kits and 4,000 hygiene kits containing essential toiletries and sanitation items. They have also distributed 2,000 bags for psychological support activities for children which include games and activities.
Ahmed Adel, a Save the Children Egypt Mental Health and Psychosocial support Facilitator, said:
“We hear a lot of stories during these activities, especially from children. For example, they tell us that they associate noise to shootings and explosions that happened near them, when they were in Sudan.
“A child told me he was anxious because members of his families were not around during these events. He also told me that his sister is a university student, and her friends were shot dead, and that he lost some family members.”
Save the Children is calling on the international community to commit the funding and resources to prepare for a large-scale response to meet critical needs both in Sudan and in neighbouring countries, including to local and national organisations providing frontline response.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Save the Children.
The Department of Human Settlements has, in the medium-term, set a target of 1 500 informal settlements for upgrading, through an Informal Settlement Upgrading Programme (ISUP).
UNICEF is stepping up humanitarian support for children on the move affected by the ongoing conflict in Sudan. As violence continues, an estimated 82,000 children have fled to neighbouring countries and approximately 368,000 more are newly displaced inside the country.
According to UNHCR, more than 164,000 people have sought refuge across borders since 15 April, including in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya and South Sudan. In addition, IOM estimates some 736,000 people are newly internally displaced within Sudan since the start of the conflict. Almost 3.8 million people were internally displaced within Sudan prior to the outbreak of violence.
“The brutal conflict in Sudan has exacted a devastating toll on the country's children,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Thousands have experienced deeply traumatic events or been driven from their homes in search of relative safety. Their situation remains precarious, and continued support and assistance from the international community and humanitarian partners are critical.”
Many communities receiving displaced populations are already affected by multiple crises, with basic services and existing humanitarian capacity already overstretched. The rainy season is expected to heighten access challenges and increase the risks of disease. The conflict is also disrupting cross-border trade and movement, leading to a sharp increase in food prices in neighbouring countries, with a higher risk of food insecurity in vulnerable host communities.
In Sudan, UNICEF has provided emergency health kits, essential supplies and medicines to hospitals and primary healthcare centres to support the treatment of the injured and access to life-saving and basic health services. UNICEF is also supporting displaced children and families, striving to ensure the continuity of essential services, including the provision of nutrition supplies to help keep more than 80 per cent of facilities functioning in affected areas. UNICEF interventions will also support the provision of urgent assistance to newly displaced children and families and affected host communities in the states where conflict spread remains limited and with the largest number of internally displaced. This week, a UNICEF shipment of water, sanitation and hygiene supplies landed in Port Sudan, with further shipments scheduled in the days ahead.
UNICEF is also working closely with governments and partner organisations in neighbouring countries to step up essential life-saving services and support to these vulnerable children. This support includes:
UNICEF is calling on the international community to urgently support its efforts by providing additional funding and resources to address the growing crisis. With sustained support, UNICEF aims to reach and assist more children in need and secure their rights to survival, development, and protection.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Tunisian authorities have intensified their attack on opponents of President Kais Saied's 2021 power grab, moving to neutralize the country's largest political party, Ennahda, Human Rights Watch said today.
Since December 2022, the Tunisian government has arrested at least 17 current or former members of the party, including its leader, and shut its offices across the country. The authorities should immediately release all those arbitrarily detained and end restrictions on freedom of association and assembly.
The arrests have continued following a wave in mid-February that targeted figures of various political affiliations, bringing the number of public figures deemed critical of Saied behind bars to at least 30. Most have been accused of “conspiring against state security.” The Ennahda-linked detainees include four former ministers and several former parliament members. The party President and former speaker of parliament Rached Ghannouchi and two party vice presidents, Ali Laarayedh and Nourredine Bhiri, are among them. None has been formally charged.
“After demonizing the Ennahda Party and making serious accusations without proof, President Saied's authorities have moved to effectively dismantle it,” said Salsabil Chellali, Tunisia director at Human Rights Watch. “Tunisian authorities' latest tactic to muzzle critical voices consists of tossing around conspiracy charges left and right against all those who challenge the president's increasingly authoritarian bent.”
The authorities have accused most of the detainees of “conspiracy against state security” without clarifying the criminal acts that constitute the alleged conspiracy.
Seven Ennahda-related cases for which Human Rights Watch has been able to get additional information show the political nature of the arrests, the reliance on flimsy evidence, and disregard for due-process rights. At least four of these cases amount to barring peaceful expression.
Founded in 1981, Ennahda – formerly the Islamic Tendency Movement – was legalized only in 2011, after a popular uprising ousted the longtime authoritarian President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali. Ennahda played a central role in all government coalitions until 2019.
Ennahda President Ghannouchi has been a prominent opponent of Saied's one-man-rule that followed his seizure of extraordinary powers on July 25, 2021. On April 17, plainclothes officers arrested Ghannouchi at his home. They did not show an arrest warrant, one of his lawyers told Human Rights Watch.
On April 20, an investigative judge issued a detention warrant for Ghannouchi on charges of attempting to “change the nature of the state” and “conspiring against internal state security,” crimes for which a death sentence is possible. The accusations are based on a warning by Ghannouchi on April 15 during a meeting that alienating opposition political movements, including Ennahda and “the left,” was a “project for civil war.”
Over the past 18 months, Ghannouchi, 81, has been questioned in relation to 19 different investigations, his lawyer Mokhtar Jemai said in a radio interview.
The police closed Ennahda's headquarters in Tunis on April 18, without presenting any court decision or formal document, another lawyer said. Security forces have prevented members from accessing the offices of the party across the country, the lawyer said.
The same day, the authorities shut the Tunis headquarters of a party known as the Tunisia Will Movement, which hosted activities of the National Salvation Front (NSF), an opposition coalition cofounded by Ennahda.
An unverified Interior Ministry memorandum invoking the state of emergency – which has continuously been extended since 2015 – ordering the closure of Ennahda's offices and banning their meetings across the country, as well as the NSF's gatherings in Tunis, has circulated online.
The two Ennahda vice presidents, Laarayedh and Bhiri, are being held in Mornaguia prison. Laarayedh, 67, a former interior and prime minister, is facing prosecution for decisions he made in office between 2011 and 2014 that allegedly failed to combat fundamentalism and Islamic extremist violence “in the necessary way.” He has been held since December 19, without being brought before a judge.
Former Justice Minister Bhiri was arrested on February 13 for attempting to “change the nature of the state,” his lawyer, Amine Bouker, told Human Rights Watch, for a Facebook post urging, Tunisians to demonstrate against Saied on January 14, the anniversary of Ben Ali's ouster. Bhiri's lawyers said he did not write or post the call.
Said Ferjani, another Ennahda leader who was in the Parliament dissolved by Saied in March 2022, was arrested in Tunis on February 27 as part of an investigation into the digital content production company Instalingo, one of his lawyers said. The state prosecutor has accused the company, whose customers include Arabic-speaking media organizations critical of Saied, of inciting violence and slandering Saied.
Ferjani is accused of “money laundering,” attempting to “change the nature of the state,” “undermining external State security,” and inciting violence, among other charges – including under the 2015 Anti-Terrorist law – some of which are punishable by death. An investigative judge questioned Ferjani on March 1 about his relationships and finances. His family and lawyer told Human Rights Watch that he has no link with the company. He is in Sousse prison and he has not been further questioned by a judge.
At least two other Ennahda members are detained in the Instalingo case: the former Investment Minister Riadh Bettaieb, his lawyer told Human Rights Watch, and Ghannouchi, who was placed under a detention warrant in this case on May 9.
Mohamed Mzoughi, Ennahda's head of public relations in the city of Beja, was arrested on March 9. The following day, Mohamed Saleh Bouallagui, Ennahda's general secretary in Beja, was arrested. They remain in detention, accused of “conspiracy against state security” including through “contacts with a foreign power,” “insulting the president” and terrorism-related charges for their alleged role in managing social media pages critical of Saied's rule, their lawyers said.
Documents filed by the state prosecutor indicate that Bouallagui and Mzoughi are being investigated under the 2015 Anti-Terrorist law for offenses punishable by up to 20 years in prison, including “membership in a terrorist organization,” “using the Tunisian territory to commit terrorist offenses,” “providing weapons” and money laundering. They are also being investigated under articles of the Penal Code and article 86 of the Telecommunications Code. The investigative judge last questioned Mzoughi on March 24 and Bouallagui on March 28.
Mohamed Ben Salem, a former Ennahda leader and former minister of agriculture, was arrested on March 3, without a warrant, in the southeastern town of Bir Lahmar. He is being investigated for “forming an organization aiming to prepare and commit the crime of illegally leaving the Tunisian territory” under article 42 of law 1975-40 on Travel Documents and “holding sums of money in foreign currency,” under articles of the foreign exchange code.
Ben Salem has not been questioned by a judge since his detention. However, the financial crimes police unit interrogated him on April 12 in a separate investigation into alleged corruption.
Four other people are detained in relation to the cases against Ben Salem, including former Ennahda parliament member, Ahmed Laamari, his lawyer told Human Rights Watch.
Ben Salem, detained in Sfax prison, has lost his ability to walk and suffered two strokes since his arrest, his lawyer, Abdelwahhab Maatar, told Human Rights Watch. He has had a heart condition and chronic diseases for years, his family said.
Ruling by decree, Saied has systematically undermined judicial independence, raising fair trial concerns for these and other people accused after they criticized him. In February 2022, Saied dissolved the High Judicial Council, which was mandated to guarantee the independence of the judiciary, and appointed a temporary body over which he has broad control. In June 2022, he granted himself the authority to unilaterally dismiss magistrates and fired 57. The authorities have refused to comply with an administrative court order to reinstate 49 of them.
Under international law, a suspect should be held in pretrial detention only in exceptional circumstances when the court provides reasons for holding them that are compelling, individualized, and subject to periodic review and appeal. Pretrial detention is only to be imposed as “an exception” under article 84 of Tunisia's Criminal Procedure Code.
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Tunisia is a party, protects the rights to freedom of opinion, expression, association, and assembly. Tunisia is also bound under the ICCPR and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights to respect the right to a fair trial.
“The Tunisian authorities should stop their reprisal against Ennahda and other opponents and release all those jailed in the absence of credible evidence of crimes,” Chellali said.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Human Rights Watch (HRW).
This week’s Cabinet meeting took place exactly 29 years to the day after President Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the first President of a democratic South Africa.
Nandipha Magudumana withdrew her application in light of “new information”
Cabinet says it welcomes the decision to appeal the recent North Gauteng High Court ruling that instructed Eskom to exempt public institutions from load shedding based on the implications of this judgement.
The offices of Eritrea's Consul General and Public and Community Affairs in Germany organized meetings to nationals in the German cities of Nuremberg, Munich and Karlsruhe from 30 April to 7 May focusing on strengthening organizational capacity.
At the seminars that were conducted under the theme “Heroic Feat Anchored on Cohesive Ranks”, Mr. Kibreab Tekeste, Eritrea's Consul General, gave extensive briefing on the objective situation in the homeland as well as on the significance of strengthening organizational capacity.
Reminding the participants to become visionary, to adhere to the noble societal values and exercise technology in improving their capacity, Mr. Kibreab called for strengthening organizational capacity and participation in the national affairs.
Pointing out that the Eritrean history is history of challenges and resilience, as well as heroism and perseverance, Mr. Kahsai Tewolde, head of Public and Community Affairs, called on the youth to comprehend their history and adhere to the noble societal values.
The participants on their part indicating the importance of the seminars in raising their understanding on the objective situation in their homeland called for its sustainability.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.
South Africa’s infrastructure drive to revitalise the economy and create employment continues to gain momentum, says Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.
The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has today, 9th May 2023, commissioned an ultra-modern office complex to serve as the strategic coordinating entity for vaccine research, development and manufacturing in Ghana.
It will be recalled that on 28th February, 2021, President Akufo-Addo inaugurated a Presidential Committee on Vaccine Development and Manufacturing to give concrete expression to the vision of becoming self-sufficient in the domestic production of vaccines and also to implement the revived National Strategic COVID 19 Response Plan, 2020 to 2024.
According to President Akufo-Addo, “not only did COVID 19 disrupt health systems and ravaged economies, but it also laid bare the vulnerability of countries and exposed our dependent on developed countries for the acquisition of vaccines.”
Explaining further, he said, “our nation's attainment of low-middle income status also meant that we have to transition fully from the Global vaccine alliance support by 2027. Simply put, the world was putting us on notice till we start taking responsibility for our routine vaccine needs within four years which is estimated at some USD 30million per year.”
He added that, “with limited bargaining power to negotiate directly with COVID 19 vaccine manufacturers, government relied on two multilateral initiatives to procure COVID 19 vaccines, the COVAX facility, and the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team at that to receive enough vaccines for 20% of the population and also on direct purchases of vaccines from the international market.”
Targeted at making Ghana the pan-African hub for vaccines, the establishment of the National Vaccine Institute and the accompanying laws has been a collaborative effort with key partners, involving private sector pharmaceutical companies, academic and research institutions, GIZ, The EU, and the World Health Organisation.
With the short-term goal to finish and package COVID 19, Malaria and Tuberculosis Vaccines within two years, he added that the medium-term target “is to continue the establishment of more domestic vaccine manufacturing plants, in the country to manufacture vaccines to meet the WHO, GNP standards with the long-term target being to produce a Candidate Vaccine in ten years using innovative technologies.”
In line with the Provisions of the National Vaccines Act, Article 1097 of 2023, President Akufo-Addo earlier today inaugurated the Governing Board of the National Vaccine Institute at the Jubilee House.
Chaired by renowned former WHO Deputy Chief, Dr Anarfi Asamoa-Baah, and Prof. William Kwabena Ampofo as the Chief Executive Officer, the Governing Board also has Dr. Baffour -Awuah, representing the Ministry of Health, as well as others from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Environment, Science Technology and Innovation, the Attorney-General's office, Food and Drugs Authority, Ghana Standards Authority, the President of the Pharmaceutical Association, Manufacturers Association of Ghana, the Ghana Health Service and the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.
Kenya is set to partner with South Korea in the area of vaccines and pharmaceuticals manufacturing, with both countries exchanging technology, health financing, management information systems, and health commodity security.
This announcement was made during a meeting held today at Afya House in Nairobi, where Cabinet Secretary for Health, Nakhumicha A. Wafula, hosted the visiting Health and Welfare committee members of Gyeonggido provincial government from South Korea, together with the Baringo County Governor, H.E. Benjamin Cheboi.
Last year, CS Wafula visited Seoul, South Korea, where she toured SK Biosciences, an international vaccine manufacturing company. She also held a meeting with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), where Kenya formally sought admission as a state party.
Kenya is currently in the process of setting up the Kenya Biovax Institute, which will be tasked with manufacturing vaccines and other pharmaceuticals locally. The country signed an agreement with Exim Bank last year to offer financial avenues to those interested in venturing into vaccines and pharmaceuticals manufacturing.
During the meeting, Governor Cheboi implored the Korean government to offer employment opportunities to youths who graduate from health training institutions within his county.
This partnership between Kenya and South Korea will go a long way in boosting the country's healthcare sector, as local manufacturing of vaccines and pharmaceuticals will not only reduce costs but also ensure their availability, especially in the remote areas.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.
