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Tag: Ghana

  • Germany’s Steinmeier kicks off three-country Africa trip in Egypt

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    German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrived in Egypt on Saturday afternoon at the start of a nearly week-long trip to Africa that will also include stops in Ghana and Angola. No German head of state has ever visited Angola before him.

    Steinmeier last visited the African continent in December 2024.

    Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi had invited the German president to attend the official opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo. This museum has been built within sight of the Pyramids of Giza.

    The archaeological museum exhibits more than 100,000 objects from the Pharaonic, Greek and Roman antiquity. For the first time, the complete burial equipment of the boy king Tutankhamun will be on display, including his golden death mask.

    Steinmeier was accompanied by his wife Elke Büdenbender at the museum opening.

    Talks on Middle East issues

    Steinmeier intends to use the opportunity in Cairo for bilateral talks with al-Sissi and other visiting world leaders.

    Immediately after his arrival in Cairo, Steinmeier met Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

    The discussions with both leaders were expected mainly to focus on the situation in the Middle East following the fragile ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas.

    According to the Office of the Federal President in Berlin, with the subsequent visits to Ghana and Angola, Steinmeier aims to acknowledge the regional commitment of both states to stability and peace in West Africa.

    The political partnership with them is to be strengthened, and cooperation in the fields of economy, science and culture is to be expanded, it said.

    Both Ghana and Angola are political heavyweights in their region and could also hold their own economically in the current turbulent global economic situation, the presidential office added.

    Close development cooperation with Accra

    Politically, Ghana is a stable democracy and therefore a haven of peace in West Africa. There has been close development cooperation between Germany and Ghana for decades.

    Steinmeier already visited Ghana as president in 2017, but Angola has never before been visited by a German head of state.

    Angola is also seen as an important political and economic partner in Berlin. The country currently holds the chairmanship of the African Union (AU), the most important association of African states with 55 members.

    Angola is rich in resources

    Angola is the world’s fourth largest diamond producer and has large, barely tapped deposits of critical raw materials that are also needed by the German economy. Angola is an oil-rich country, with 90% of its exports being crude oil.

    Germany also mainly sources oil and gas from this country of some 38 million people.

    Steinmeier is accompanied on his trip by a business delegation.

    German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Buedenbender greeted by Minister for the Public Sector Mohamed Shimy (R) at Cairo International Airport, upon their arrival to attend the opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa

    German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (L) meets with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in a hotel, on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa

    German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (L) meets with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in a hotel, on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa

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  • Judge says U.S. trying to do

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    A federal judge on Saturday accused the Trump administration of trying to do an “end-run” around legal obligations that the U.S. has to protect people fleeing persecution and torture following the deportation of a group of African migrants to Ghana, some of whom are now slated to be returned to their home countries.

    U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan ordered the U.S. government to explain, by 9 p.m. EST on Saturday, what steps it was taking to prevent the deportees “from being removed to their countries of origin or other countries where they fear persecution or torture.”

    Earlier this month, the U.S. deported more than a dozen non-Ghanaian nationals to Ghana, including deportees from Gambia and Nigeria, making Ghana the latest country to accept these so-called third country deportations at the request of the Trump administration. Ghana’s government confirmed the deportations.

    Attorneys have alleged in a lawsuit that the deportees have been held in “squalid conditions and surrounded by armed military guards in an open-air detention facility” in Ghana. 

    Lee Gelernt, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union, told Chutkan during a hearing Saturday that four of the deportees have been told that Ghana will return them to their native nations as early as Monday, despite the fact that they have orders from U.S. immigration judges that bar their deportation to their home countries due to concerns they could be persecuted or tortured there. One man from Gambia, who attorneys say is bisexual, has already been returned to Gambia, according to the lawsuit.

    The deportees’ legal protections — which are rooted in the United Nations Convention Against Torture and a provision of U.S. immigration law known as withholding of removal — prohibit the U.S. from sending foreigners to countries where they would face persecution or torture. But unlike asylum, they still allow the U.S. to send them to other, third-party countries.

    The Justice Department lawyer representing the U.S. government during the hearing did not dispute that Ghana plans to return the deportees to their native countries and conceded that the Ghanaian government appears to be violating diplomatic assurances that it allegedly made vowing not to send these migrants to places where they could be harmed. 

    But the Justice Department attorney said the U.S. could not tell Ghana what to do at this point.

    Chutkan appeared frustrated by that position, suggesting it was “disingenuous.” She grilled the Justice Department attorney about whether the U.S. knew this could happen and suggested the deportations seemed to be an “end-run” to bypass the legal protections the deportees have. She suggested the U.S. can retrieve the deportees and return them to the U.S. or transfer them to another country where they would be safe. Or, she added, it could tell Ghana it is violating its agreement with the U.S.

    “How’s this not a violation of your obligation?” she asked the Justice Department attorney.

    But Chutkan acknowledged her “hands may be tied” since the deportees are not on American soil nor in U.S. custody. She also implied that the Supreme Court would almost certainly pause any order that required the American government to act to stop the returns.

    Representatives for the Departments of State and Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests to comment on the deportations to Ghana and Chutkan’s order.

    Gelernt, the ACLU attorney representing the African deportees, hailed Chutkan’s mandate.

    “The Court properly recognized that the United States government, with full knowledge that these individuals are going to be sent to danger, cannot simply wash their hands of the matter,” Gelernt told CBS News.

    As part of its mass deportation campaign, the Trump administration has sought to convince countries around the globe to receive deportees who are not their citizens, brokering agreements with nations including El Salvador, Kosovo, Panama and South Sudan.

    Camilo Montoya-Galvez

    Camilo Montoya-Galvez is the immigration reporter at CBS News. Based in Washington, he covers immigration policy and politics.

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  • How Ghana and Ethiopia Are Boosting Their Forests

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    A delegate stands in front of a backdrop for the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) during the opening of the High-Level Leaders Summit in Addis Ababa, on Sept. 8, 2025. Credit – Luis Tato—Getty Images

    In the face of Africa’s rapid deforestation in past decades, many countries in the continent are now starting to see progress in combating forest loss—and making inroads in reforestation efforts.

    Leaders from Ethiopia, Ghana, Norway, and Denmark spoke of the effectiveness of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative and other African-led deforestation solutions, highlighting the importance of improving global support for these initiatives, during a panel moderated by TIME’s chief climate officer Shyla Raghav. The conversation took place on Sept. 9 during Africa’s Second Climate Summit, hosted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

    The Green Legacy Initiative was launched in 2019 by Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to tackle climate challenges, reverse land degradation, restore ecosystems, and build climate resilience. Since launching the initiative, the country has seen a sharp decline in deforestation—down from 92,000 hectares (over 227,000 acres) in 2013, to 27,000 hectares (around 66,700 acres) in 2023 and 2024—and planted over 48 billion seedlings to aid in reforestation efforts, according to Kebede Yimam, director-general of the Ethiopian Forestry Development Unit.

    Linking emission reductions with the country’s development goals has enabled the country to make quick progress on multiple fronts, said Mensur Dessie, climate institutional development advisor at the Ethiopian Ministry of Planning and Development. Ethiopia launched a 10-year development plan in 2021 to guide the country towards climate resilient green development by 2030, integrating sustainable practices throughout sectors including agriculture, forestry, energy, transport, and water.

    “We are now successfully launching these strategies that could really help Ethiopia to achieve its development aspirations that have been set for 2030 and 2050 as well as address…greenhouse gas emission reduction and building resilience across the sectors,” Dessie said.

    What’s more, focusing on restoring natural resources has had a direct impact on the livelihoods of Ethiopians, said Motuma Tolera, deputy director-general of forestry development in the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture.

    “We have communities which were engaged in [restoration], and they have already started to harvest the foods and then make livelihoods—even the export level of these foods is rising a lot,” he said.

    Panelists also spoke of the importance of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+), a voluntary U.N. framework that financially rewards developing countries for emission reductions from reduced deforestation. While REDD+ has faced controversy over the years, including claims that projects overestimate their claimed carbon cuts, speakers said the program has helped with local reforestation efforts.

    Roselyn Fosuah Adjei, director of the Forestry Commission Training Centre in Ghana, shared some of the country’s experiences implementing REDD+. As of 2024, the country has received and dispersed over $20 million in funds from the World Bank for combatting deforestation. Adjei stressed the importance of involving stakeholders like local leaders, private sector, and various government branches.

    “Implementing REDD+ on the ground needs governance arrangements where you know who does what,” she said. “Local communities have their own farms. What must they do on their farms? What must the private sector do to support local communities? What must civil society do to support that process as well?”

    A number of countries, including Ghana, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of Congo have begun to receive payments for REDD+ progress, highlighting the program’s efficacy and momentum, said Ellen Bruzelius Backer, deputy director of the Norwegian International Climate and Forestry Initiative. Norway is one of the donors behind the LEAF-Coalition, which seeks to purchase verified emission reduction and removal credits and has agreed to purchase future credits from Ethiopia. “Traction comes after a lot of hard work in a lot of countries,” she said.

    But there is still more work to be done. Africa has the highest rate of deforestation in the world. About 3.9 million hectares (9.6 million acres) of African forest—roughly the size of about 381 million soccer fields—was destroyed every year between 2010 and 2020. “We believe [nature-based solutions] offer a sustainable way forward for Africa,” said Sune Krogstrup, Denmark’s ambassador to Ethiopia, one of the investors in Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative. “But it’s also clear that more investments and political commitments are needed from all stakeholders to advance this agenda.”

    Coverage of the Second Africa Climate Summit is presented by the Pan Africa Climate Justice Alliance.

    Write to Simmone Shah at simmone.shah@time.com.

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  • Ghanaian chief justice Gertrude Torkornoo removed from office

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    Ghana’s President John Mahama has fired the country’s Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo following a recommendation by an inquiry.

    She had been on suspension since April after complaints were lodged against her in petitions by three individuals.

    A president-appointed commission then found that “grounds of stated misbehaviour… had been established and recommended her removal from office”, Mahama’s office said on Monday. Ms Torkornoo has dismissed the allegations as unfounded and politically motivated.

    The presidency said Mahama was required to act in accordance with the committee’s recommendations. But critics fear it sets a worrying precedent and undermines judicial independence.

    In its investigation, the panel reviewed 10,000 pages of evidence from 13 witnesses on behalf of petitioner Daniel Ofori. The chief justice also testified and called 12 other witnesses, including experts.

    The two other petitions have not been concluded.

    Ms Torkornoo has also been removed as a judge of the Supreme Court following the committee’s findings.

    The inquiry found evidence of unlawful expenditure of public funds linked to her private travel. Her spouse and daughter were reportedly paid allowances using public funds during a private trip with her husband to Tanzania in 2023 and another to the US with her daughter.

    She also faced allegations of interference in appointments by sidestepping procedures for appointing Supreme Court judges and abusing powers in the transfer of a judiciary employee.

    Ms Torkornoo, Ghana’s third female chief justice, was nominated in 2023 by former President Nana Akufo-Addo.

    She is the first sitting chief justice to be investigated and dismissed.

    Chief justices in Ghana enjoy security of tenure – meaning they can only be removed from office on a few grounds, which include incompetence and misbehaviour.

    However, Ms Torkornoo’s legal representatives have dismissed the basis for her removal.

    In April, the opposition New Patriotic Party condemned her suspension, describing it as a political witch hunt and an attempt to undermine judicial independence.

    Multiple lawsuits challenging the removal process were unsuccessful.

    She had previously survived a removal request under Akufo-Addo, who found the petition to have “several deficiencies”.

    She had been accused of bias in some of her rulings by the current governing party, which was then in opposition.

    A former deputy attorney general, Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, has criticised the decision to remove the chief justice saying it set a “dangerous precedent”, the AFP news agency reports.

    “The petition that I read showed no proper grounds to warrant her removal… If the threshold is what we read in the petition, then I fear for the future of the judiciary,” he is quoted as saying.

    The judicial arm of government is an independent institution, but the constitution allows for checks to ensure a balance of power.

    Critics argue Ms Torkornoo’s removal could erode the independence of the judiciary and allow the executive branch to exert undue influence over judges.

    If the executive branch is seen as having too much power over the judiciary, it could undermine public trust in the legal system and create an uneven playing field for justice.

    William Nyarko, executive director of the Africa Centre for Law and Accountability, has called for a review of the law governing the removal of a chief justice.

    He notes that Ghanaian law does not specifically define what constitutes “stated misbehaviour”, leaving room for varied interpretations and potential manipulation by the executive.

    Mr Nyarko cited Kenya as an example, where the process begins with the Judicial Service Commission, ensuring the independence of the two institutions.

    The chief justice still has the opportunity to challenge her removal in court, although she may not receive a favourable outcome.

    You may also be interested in:

    [Getty Images/BBC]

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  • Scammers hire models to fool Americans

    Scammers hire models to fool Americans

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    Scammers hire models to fool Americans – CBS News


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    A group of romance scammers based in Ghana have been hiring models and escorts to fool Americans. Debora Patta was given an inside look at the operation.

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  • Toddler from Ghana becomes world’s youngest artist after sell-out exhibition

    Toddler from Ghana becomes world’s youngest artist after sell-out exhibition

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    The Uplift: A commitment to kindness


    The Uplift: A commitment to kindness

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    A 1-year-old became the Guinness World Records’ youngest male artist after his paintings were displayed in an exhibit at the Museum of Science and Technology in Accra, Ghana.

    Ace-Liam Nana Sam Ankrah sold nine of the 10 pieces he displayed. 

    To qualify for the coveted recognition, Guinness World Records said the toddler had to complete the work to a professional standard, display it at a public exhibition, and sell one of the pieces. There would also have to be evidence that he had done his own work.

    capture.png
      Ace-Liam Nana Sam Ankrah poses in front of some of his pieces

    ace_liam_paints/Instagram via Guinness World Records


    In an interview with CBS’ partner network BBC News, the boy’s mother spoke of her pride in her son’s work.

    “He already knows what colors complement each other,” said Chantelle Kuukua Eghan, who is also an artist.

    She told the Guinness World Records she discovered Ace-Liam enjoyed painting when she tried to keep him busy while she worked. She put some paint on a canvas on the floor and let him play with it. The result was a piece entitled The Crawl.

    “It was clear that he found a lot of joy in it.”, she said. “He has created a buzz and heightened the conversation about art appreciation,” Chantelle added.

    Describing his son’s work, she told Guinness World Records she lets Ace-Liam choose the canvas and colors he wants, and lets him spread the paint spontaneously.

    “Once he’s done, he says ‘mama finish’,” she added.  

    Bonkers new Guinness World Records


    Bonkers new Guinness World Records

    19 photos

    The boy’s family has said they are now looking for scholarship opportunities for him.

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  • Ghana To Introduce Tax Incentive For Film Productions

    Ghana To Introduce Tax Incentive For Film Productions

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    EXCLUSIVE: Ghana‘s fast-developing film sector has received a significant vote of confidence from the country’s government as President Nana Akufo-Addo sets plans to introduce a new tax rebate system for film productions.

    As part of the new law, the country will offer a 20% tax rebate for strategic film productions alongside a series of film financing reliefs, including exemptions on import duties for film production equipment. The proposed incentives also include an exemption on port taxes and other cash levies, which are usually required upfront by authorities. The government has said local corporate entities that financially back the sector can also benefit from these incentives.

    Speaking at the State of the Nation address in the parliament of Ghana, President Akufo-Addo said that his “government, through the National Film Authority, is committed to supporting the production of world-class content and films, as well as increasing the cinema infrastructure in Ghana and by extension, on the continent.” 

    Akuffo Addo added that the incentive “should provide another tangible reason for Ghana to be the choice country for film production.”

    Over the past three years, under the leadership of Juliet Yaa Asantewa Asante, the National Film Authority of Ghana has launched a series of ambitious initiatives aimed at positioning Ghana as a leading film hub on the continent. The Authority’s “Shoot in Ghana” campaign garnered considerable attention and drew in international productions like the NFL Super Bowl spot Born to Play. The ad was produced by Danny Damah and Tony Tagoe’s production company, TD Afrique Films (Beasts of No Nation).

    Commenting on the President’s announcement, Juliet Yaa Asantewa Asante, CEO of the National Film Authority, said: “The forthcoming tax incentive policy, as articulated by the President, stands poised to fortify Ghana’s position within the global film ecosystem, amplifying its attractiveness to filmmakers and solidifying its status as a cinematic powerhouse on the international stage.”

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    Zac Ntim

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  • DJ Flex Drops New Infectious Single, ‘Odo’ | Your EDM

    DJ Flex Drops New Infectious Single, ‘Odo’ | Your EDM

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    Straight out Newark NJ, with roots in Ghana, DJ Flex (Felix Erwiah) returns with a delectable slice of melodic feelgood Afropop. A playful, sweetly romantic and universally appealing song inspired by Flex’s African heritage, ‘Odo’ (slang for Odoyewu, from the West African Twi dialect) encapsulates the Ghanaian concept of love for life in all its varieties. 

    One of the hottest producer/artists on the scene today, DJ Flex has crossed many genres and collaborated with such luminaries as Megan The Stallion, Shenseea, Mya, Nija and Nigerian superstar Minz. He has garnered huge Spotify editorial playlisting (resulting in over 30 million streams), performed a Boiler Room set and been featured on BBC Radio and OVO Sound Radio. His unique background has fostered a globe-trotting sound that incorporates elements of Afrobeats, Jersey Club and Baile Funk. Now signed to Virgin Music Distribution / Ingrooves, ‘Odo’ is the first track off of an album project out 2024.

    Growing up in working class Newark, DJ Flex was introduced to dance music and club life by his father, who, in addition to working two jobs as a cab driver and Fedex employee, also made some extra cash as a videographer for big weekend gatherings among the Ghanaian diasporic community. As a small boy, the wide-eyed DJ Flex was able to experience the rhythm of these parties firsthand. Fascinated by the DJ’s ability to take the crowd on a journey through the night, Flex started tinkering with rudimentary equipment on his own as a teenager, eventually getting paid gigs throughout the Northeast, and as far-flung as Atlanta and Germany, all the while going to college and working odd jobs to get by. 

    Life became more difficult when his father succumbed to a stroke and DJ Flex had to stay home and care for him, all the while completing his degree and hustling to earn as much as could with his (now viral) productions and DJ gigs. After his father died in the Covid epidemic in 2020, DJ Flex decided to fully embrace music as his career and destiny, inspired by the struggles and sacrifices that his father made to raise little Felix into DJ Flex.

    About ‘Odo’, DJ Flex says ‘When I am creating, I love the feeling of merging different cultures and allowing the sound of the song to speak with people on a deeper connection. My goal when I was creating this song was to bring elevation to the current sound of afrobeats and adding a message everyone in the world can relate to, which is love.’

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    Peter Berry

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  • Alphonso Davies named most influential Canadian sport star in new study | Globalnews.ca

    Alphonso Davies named most influential Canadian sport star in new study | Globalnews.ca

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    Edmonton soccer darling Alphonso Davies has been crowned the most influential Canadian sport star, based on Instagram statistics, including number of followers and engagement.

    Davies plays for Bayern Munich and the Canadian national team.

    The study, conducted by online gambling company PlayOJO, ranked the top 10 Canadian sports stars.

    Davies, 22, has over 5.4 million Instagram followers, a 3.2 per cent engagement rate and 173,000 average likes per post.

    “Phonsie, especially, is a wonderful news story, both in terms of his upbringing — coming in as a refugee — growing, in terms of the Canadian soccer community, and going and playing for Bayern, is awesome,” said Gilles Prefontaine, a marketing instructor at NAIT’s JR Shaw School of Business.

    “His success draws in a whole bunch of young athletes that want to share in that and be part of that with him.”

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    Prefontaine says soccer has a more global reach than some other sports.

    “Being Canadian, we often think of hockey, and that’s because it’s part of our culture, it’s part of our DNA. But we also have to remember that many of these athletes are going to draw from international groups. And so many of the sports that have much larger international volumes will naturally have a bigger impact in terms of that number of followers.”


    Click to play video: 'World Cup inspiring youth soccer in Edmonton'


    World Cup inspiring youth soccer in Edmonton


    The study estimates Davies also has the highest potential earnings per sponsored post — an estimated $87,176 per post and $113,424 per reel.

    With that power, Prefontaine says, comes responsibility.

    “When someone with that kind of notoriety can change behaviour and turn around and influence potentially whole generations of individuals to consume something or do something very different, there is a certain amount of accountability,” he said.

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    Retired MMA fighter Georges St-Pierre, 42, is ranked second, with over 4.4 million followers, but a lower — 0.6 per cent — engagement rate.

    In third place is Ontario’s Tristan Thompson, who has played 12 seasons in the NBA. Thompson has over 3.9 million followers and gets an average of 170,000 likes per post.

    Rounding out the top 10 are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (basketball), Genie Bouchard (tennis), Andrew Wiggins (basketball), Adam Copeland (WWE), Jamal Murray (basketball), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (baseball) and RJ Barrett (basketball).


    PlayOJO researchers rank top 10 most influential Canadian sports stars.

    Courtesy: PlayOJO

    Davies’ story is well known. Born in a refugee camp in Ghana to parents who had fled the civil war in Liberia, Davies came to Canada when he was five.

    In July 2016, a 15-year-old Davies left his home in Edmonton to pursue a professional soccer career.

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    He signed with the Vancouver Whitecaps, becoming the third-youngest in history to sign an MLS deal. Two years later, the Whitecaps agreed to sell Davies to Bayern Munich in a then-record MLS deal, worth possibly in excess of US$22 million.

    Davies, then 17, finished out the season with Vancouver before officially joining Bayern in January 2019.

    When it comes to Team Canada, he was just 16 when he made his senior debut for the country in June 2017 against Curacao, becoming the youngest men’s player in Canadian team history. He had obtained his Canadian citizenship the week before.

    Davies has since become the face of Canadian men’s soccer, on and off the field. In June 2018, he opened Canada’s presentation to the FIFA Council in Moscow as part the joint North American bid, along with the U.S. and Mexico, to host the 2026 World Cup.

    His social media accounts are followed by a legion of fans. He has 6.6 million followers on TikTok, 5.1 million on Instagram and 472,800 on Twitter.


    Click to play video: 'Alphonso Davies’ return to Edmonton for World Cup qualifiers ‘makes people believe’'


    Alphonso Davies’ return to Edmonton for World Cup qualifiers ‘makes people believe’


    “If we’re really thinking about a social media influencer, we’re thinking about someone who is using their platform, their notoriety to change other people’s behaviour,” Prefontaine said.

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    “A lot of deals with — or should, at least, deal with — the athlete’s or the person’s values.”

    He says a successful influencer draws back the curtain of their life and creates a sense of belonging.

    “We think about the realms of influence,” Prefontaine said. “Having someone, like a phenom like Phonsie, come from Edmonton, has already done amazing things — for example, for the Edmonton soccer community, where others look at this Edmonton area and realize we’re not a wasteland.

    “Because in Canada, we have the Whitecaps and Toronto FC and it’s kind of feeling like everything in between, there’s nothing.”

    Davies has endeared himself to many off the field as well. He serves as a global goodwill ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.

    “He’s also been very genuine in terms of sharing some of that influence with his local community,” Prefontaine said.

    “I’ve seen him flipping burgers and doing a variety of things to promote some local businesses, some different outreach with soccer clubs and soccer communities and that creates a sense of authenticity, but brings Edmonton and what’s going on in Edmonton, to a much higher level at the global stage.”


    Click to play video: 'Soccer phenom’s life story detailed in new book ‘Alphonso Davies: A New Hope’'


    Soccer phenom’s life story detailed in new book ‘Alphonso Davies: A New Hope’




    &copy 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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    Emily Mertz

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  • ‘Absurd and destructive:’ Zelenskyy slams Russia’s UN Security Council presidency

    ‘Absurd and destructive:’ Zelenskyy slams Russia’s UN Security Council presidency

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    Russian President Vladimir Putin taking on the rotating monthly presidency of the 15-member United Nations Security Council came just after a young boy was killed by artillery launched by Moscow’s invading forces, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late Saturday.

    “Unfortunately, we … have news that is obviously absurd and destructive,” Zelenskyy said in his daily address Saturday night. “Today, the terrorist state began to chair the U.N. Security Council.”

    The Ukrainian leader announced that a five-month-old child named Danylo had been killed by Russian munitions in Donbas on Friday. “One of the hundreds of artillery strikes that the terrorist state launches every day,” the Ukrainian leader said. “And at the same time, Russia chairs the U.N. Security Council.”

    Even though the position at the top of the Security Council is largely ceremonial, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called Russia’s presidency a “slap in the face to the international community” given the ongoing conflict.

    The last time Russia held the rotating monthly presidency was in February 2022, when Putin ordered the brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

    At present, in addition to the five permanent members, the U.N. Security Council also includes countries supportive of Ukraine such as Japan, Ghana, Malta and Albania, along with others such as the United Arab Emirates, Mozambique and Brazil which take a more neutral approach to the conflict.

    In his Saturday address, Zelenskyy also said he had spoken with French President Emmanuel Macron for an hour on Saturday. He also welcomed Switzerland’s decision — as another temporary U.N. Security Council member — to join the 10th sanctions package against the Russian state.

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    Joshua Posaner

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  • Ghana’s president softens country’s stance on draconian anti-LGBTQ bill as Kamala Harris visits | CNN

    Ghana’s president softens country’s stance on draconian anti-LGBTQ bill as Kamala Harris visits | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo has said that “substantial elements” of a draconian anti-LGBTQ bill being considered by its parliament “have been modified” after an intervention by his government.

    Akufo-Addo made the disclosure Monday at a joint press conference with US Vice-President Kamala Harris, who’s on a tour of the West African country.

    He pointed out that the proposed legislation, framed in the guise of “family values” – which seeks to introduce some of the harshest anti-LGBTQ laws on the African continent – was not legislation introduced by his government but a private members’ bill. The bill was first introduced in parliament in August 2021.

    “The bill is going through the parliament. The attorney general has found it necessary to speak to the committee (the constitutional and legal committee of parliament) about it regarding the constitutionality … of several of its provisions. The parliament is dealing with it. At the end of the process, I will come in,” the Ghanaian leader said.

    After parliamentary deliberations, a final bill will be sent to the president for assent.

    “My understanding … is that substantial elements of the bill have already been modified as a result of the intervention of the attorney general,” Akufo-Addo said.

    In suggesting that the bill may end up being watered down in the amendment process, Akufo-Addo added that he was convinced the parliament will consider the sensitivity of the bill to human rights issues as well as the feelings of the Ghanaian population “and come out with a responsible response.”

    However, one of the parliamentarians who introduced the bill, Samuel Nartey George, insists that the proposed law remains “rigid and tough.”

    “The bill has not been substantially changed. The bill remains as tough and as rigid as it was,” George told local media in a televised interview.

    He added: “When the bill is laid before the House (of parliament), you will realize that the focus of the bill which has to do with voiding (gay) marriages, preventing them from adopting or fostering children, the clampdown on platforms and media houses that are going to do promotion and advocacy or push those materials still remain enforced.”

    George also implied that restrictions against “expressions, be it lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender are all still there. “So when he (Akufo-Addo) says the bill has been watered down, he doesn’t know what he is talking about.”

    The proposed aw would see LGBTQ Ghanaians face jail time, or be forced into so-called “conversion therapy” – a widely discredited practice debunked by much of the international medical and psychiatric communities.

    Under the bill, advocates of the LGBTQ community would face up to a decade in prison; public displays of same-sex affection or cross-dressing could lead to a fine or jail time, and certain types of medical support would be made illegal.

    The new law would also make the distribution of material deemed pro-LGBTQ by news organizations or websites illegal. It calls on Ghanaians to report those they suspect of being from the LGBTQ community.

    Harris, the US vice-president, said at the press conference she felt very strongly about supporting the freedom and equality of the LGBTQ community.

    “This is an issue that we consider to be a human rights issue, and that will not change,” she said.

    Ghana’s information minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, also told CNN on Tuesday that the outcome of the parliamentary debate on the bill may differ from its original provisions.

    “The bill is now in an enactment process. What will come out in enactment when 275 members get on the floor and start dealing with it clause by clause and voting clause by clause, may end up being different from what was proposed. You propose a bill and parliament … can tweak it and make it harsher or less harsh … it is in the hands of parliament now,” Nkrumah said.

    The minister also insisted however that the Ghanaian government was not under pressure to relax existing legislation on homosexuality.

    “We are not pressured in any way to focus on things that are not essentially within our main priorities. Our priority number one is getting the Ghanaian economy on track and that’s what we’re focused on.”

    “This conversation is not part of our mainstream conversation here in Ghana,” he added.

    Old sodomy laws dating back to 1960 remain on the statute books in Ghana but they are rarely enforced.

    Activist Danny Bediako, who runs the NGO Rightify Ghana, told CNN that living in Ghana would become tougher for the LGBTQ community if the bill passes in parliament.

    “It’s going to make it difficult for the (LGBTQ) community to exist. They are just trying to erase the community through this bill, so it will definitely lead to an increase in attacks,” said Bediako, who added that his organization had documented 27 cases of violent attacks targeted toward the LGBTQ community in the country this year.

    “There have been different types of cases, but the most dominant one is the activities of violent groups and they are widespread. So if this bill is passed, these activities are going to continue and it’s only going to also get worse.”

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  • Ohio man who falsely claimed to be Ghanaian prince sentenced to 20 years in prison | CNN Politics

    Ohio man who falsely claimed to be Ghanaian prince sentenced to 20 years in prison | CNN Politics

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    CNN
     — 

    An Ohio man was sentenced to 20 years in prison Wednesday for pretending to be a Ghanaian prince and swindling more than a dozen victims out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

    Daryl Robert Harrison, who went by Prince Daryl R. Attipoe and Prophet Daryl R. Attipoe, conned at least 14 people out of more than $800,000 according to evidence shown at his trial.

    Harrison was convicted in September of mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and witness tampering.

    For several years, Harrison stole money from people who believed they were investing in African mining and trucking companies, prosecutors said. Harrison falsely claimed that he was a prince from Ghana and had connections to those companies, according to the Justice Department.

    Several of Harrison’s victims were congregants of the Power House of Prayer Ministries, where Harrison and his stepfather claimed they were ministers. According to prosecutors, Harrison and his stepfather used the investment money for personal expenses, including renting a house in Colorado and purchasing luxury cars.

    District Judge Michael J. Newman gave Harrison the maximum sentence allowed under the law – 20 years behind bars – more than the 14-year sentence prosecutors had asked for.

    “Each of the Defendant’s fraud crimes were committed in a cold, calculated and premeditated fashion,” prosecutors wrote in court filings, describing Harrison as an “extremely selfcentered, self-possessed sociopath who has no respect for societal rules or norms, and further lacks any empathy or sympathy for his victims” that “intimidated and threatened his victims to establish and maintain control over them.”

    Harrison had asked the judge for a much lower sentence, highlighting supportive letters written by parishioners and family members. Harrison’s defense attorney also noted that his wife, who is taking care of their six children, is battling stage IV cancer.

    Harrison’s stepfather, Robert Shelly Harrison, Jr., pleaded guilty to one felony charge in December. He will be sentenced later this month.

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  • Body of soccer star Christian Atsu returns to Ghana from Turkey | CNN

    Body of soccer star Christian Atsu returns to Ghana from Turkey | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    The body of Ghana soccer star Christian Atsu arrived in Accra, Ghana on Sunday evening after it was flown from Turkey, Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (MFA) said.

    “The mortal remains of the former Ghana Black Stars player, the late Christian Atsu, whose demise occurred during the recent earthquake in Türkiye was received by the Family, Government officials, and the Ghana Football Association at a solemn ceremony at the Kotoka International Airport, today Sunday, 19th February 2023” Ghana’s MFA tweeted Sunday.

    “The remains was accompanied by his family and Ghana’s Ambassador to Türkiye, H.E. Francisca onboard a Turkish airlines flight,” Ghana’s MFA added.

    Ghana’s Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia and a large military procession met the coffin on arrival in Accra.

    “Atsu played for the Black Stars, and he was much loved, and we will sorely miss him,” Bawumia said.

    “I would like to extend my condolences to the Ghana Supporters Union, and to all Ghanaians, for this loss. It is a painful loss, a very painful one,” added Bawumia.

    “We hoped against hope, every day that passed, we prayed and prayed. But alas, when he was found, he was no more,” he said.

    Atsu went missing after the magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit Turkey and Syria on February 6, and in the immediate aftermath, there was confusion as reports from Turkey and his agent had originally said that Atsu had been located and was in a hospital, but it eventually came to light, contrary to reports, that Atsu remained unaccounted for.

    Atsu had been playing for Hatayspor in Turkey’s Süper Lig and prior to that, he had represented Premier League sides Everton and Newcastle.

    The winger was part of Ghana’s national team that played in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations final, while he also represented the Black Stars at the Brazil World Cup in 2014.

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  • Ghanaian soccer player Christian Atsu found dead under earthquake rubble in Turkey | CNN

    Ghanaian soccer player Christian Atsu found dead under earthquake rubble in Turkey | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    The body of Ghana soccer star Christian Atsu was found under rubble on Saturday, according to his agent, almost two weeks after the earthquake that devastated Turkey and Syria.

    “It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to announce to all well wishers that sadly Christian Atsu’s body was recovered this morning,” Atsu’s agent Nana Sechere tweeted. “My deepest condolences go to his family and loved ones.”

    The body of the Hatayspor player was recovered from under the rubble of a destroyed building in Antakya, Turkey’s state news channel TRT Haber reported on Saturday.

    His body will be sent to Ghana, according to a statement by his club Hatayaspor on Twitter. “Peace be upon you, beautiful person. There are no words to describe our sadness,” the statement added.

    Atsu went missing after the magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit Turkey and Syria on February 6, killing at least 45,513 people, with at least 39,672 dying in Turkey, according to the latest number given by Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu.

    In the immediate aftermath, there was confusion as reports from Turkey originally said that Atsu had been located and was in a hospital, but on February 8, Sechere tweeted that it had come to light, contrary to reports, that Atsu was still missing.

    Before joining Hatayspor last year, Atsu had played in the Saudi Pro League for Al Raed FC. He had also represented several English clubs, including Chelsea, Everton, Bournemouth and Newcastle.

    Newcastle United, for whom Atsu played from 2016 to 2021, making 121 appearances and helping the club gain promotion to the English Premier League, tweeted: “We are profoundly saddened to learn that Christian Atsu has tragically lost his life in Turkey’s devastating earthquakes.

    “A talented player and a special person, he will always be fondly remembered by our players, staff and supporters. Rest in peace, Christian.”

    Everton said on Twitter that it was “deeply saddened, ” while Chelsea said in a statement that the club “sends our heartfelt condolences to Christian’s family and friends.”

    Atsu represented his country 65 times, helping the Black Stars reach the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations final. Though Ghana lost that match to the Ivory Coast on penalties, Atsu was named player of the tournament.

    Ghana’s Football Association sent its “deepest condolences” to Atsu’s wife and children.

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  • Ghanaian footballer Christian Atsu found alive in Turkey earthquake rubble | CNN

    Ghanaian footballer Christian Atsu found alive in Turkey earthquake rubble | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    International football player Christian Atsu has been found alive and is in “stable condition” at a local hospital following Monday’s earthquake in southern Turkey, the Ghana Football Association and Atsu’s agent said on Tuesday.

    “We’ve received some positive news that Christian Atsu has been successfully rescued from the rubble of the collapsed building and is receiving treatment. Let’s continue to pray for Christian,” the Ghanaian FA posted on Twitter.

    Atsu’s agent, Nana Sechere, told CNN on Tuesday that his client was in a “stable” condition at a local hospital after being successfully rescued from the rubble of a collapsed building. Atsu was not immediately accounted for in the aftermath of the earthquake.

    Atsu, who plays for Hatayspor in Turkey, had been celebrating on Sunday night after he scored a last minute winner in his club’s 1-0 home league game against Kasimpasa, his agent said.

    “There were lots of reports out of England and Ghana that Christian was safe, but the first official confirmation I had was on Tuesday morning,” Sechere said.

    “I was told by the club that he was in hospital and that he is stable. He doesn’t have his phone and, like all of us, he can’t remember his numbers by heart so I have to continue to wait to speak to him,” he said.

    Sechere said that Atsu had been playing poker until 3:30 a.m. local time with friends on Monday and got home around four in the morning.

    The agent said he received a call from Hatayspor club officials at 5 a.m. saying the building Atsu was in had been completely destroyed and that they couldn’t get hold of him.

    “The last I’d heard from Christian was midnight. I was hoping he was awake and that the earthquake hadn’t happened while he was sleeping,” Sechere said.

    “His building was an 11-story building and he was on the ninth floor. The club officials were trying to help me find him, but it was so hard because, understandably, they were trying to find their own friends and families as well,” he added.

    “But I even remember when he signed for Hatayspor and we went to the hospital for a medical. Even then it was busy with people queuing and people on the floor. So I can only imagine what it is like with this situation,” Sechere said.

    Atsu’s former club Everton said on its official Facebook page: “We are relieved to hear Christian Atsu has been successfully rescued and is recovering in hospital. Our thoughts continue to be with everyone affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.”

    More than 5,000 deaths have been confirmed in Turkey and Syria with over 21,000 people injured following earthquakes that rocked the region on Monday.

    In Turkey, casualties were reported in 10 provinces, including Hatay, which is home to Atsu’s football team Hatayspor.

    He had previously represented top English clubs such as Chelsea, Everton, Bournemouth and Newcastle.

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  • Helicopters collide over Australian beach, 4 passengers dead

    Helicopters collide over Australian beach, 4 passengers dead

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    MELBOURNE, Australia — Two helicopters collided in an Australian tourist hotspot Monday afternoon, killing four passengers and critically injuring three others in a crash that drew emergency aid from beachgoers enjoying the water during the southern summer.

    One helicopter appeared to have been taking off and the other landing when they collided near the Sea World theme park in Main Beach, a northern beach on the Gold Coast, Gary Worrell, Queensland state police acting inspector, said at a news conference.

    One helicopter landed safely on a sandbank, but debris from the other was spread across an area police described as difficult to access.

    The dead and three most seriously injured people were all passengers in the crashed helicopter.

    “Members of the public and police tried to remove the people and they commenced first aid and tried to get those people to safety from an airframe that was upside down,” Worrell said.

    “(People on) Jet Skis, family boaters, ordinary members of the public rushed to assist these people.”

    Passengers in the other helicopter, which lost its windscreen in the crash, are also receiving medical assistance.

    Australian Transport Safety Bureau chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said an investigation into the cause of the crash was underway.

    Queensland Ambulance Service said earlier that 13 people were being assessed for injuries.

    The Gold Coast region is at its busiest in January, the peak time for holidays in Australia’s summer.

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  • Burkina Faso summons Ghana envoy over president’s claim on Wagner

    Burkina Faso summons Ghana envoy over president’s claim on Wagner

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    President Nana Akufo-Addo alleged during the US-Africa Leaders Summit that Burkina Faso has hired Russian mercenaries.

    Burkina Faso has summoned Ghana’s ambassador to protest allegations that the embattled Sahel nation has hired Russian mercenaries, the foreign ministry says.

    The summons on Friday was issued after Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo alleged on Wednesday that Burkina Faso had hired the mercenaries.

    “Today, Russian mercenaries are on our northern border. Burkina Faso has now entered into an arrangement to go along with Mali in employing the Wagner forces there,” Akufo-Addo said at the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington.

    Speaking alongside United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Akufo-Addo also alleged that Burkina Faso had offered Wagner a mine as payment.

    In a statement issued after its meeting with Ghana’s ambassador, Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had “expressed disapproval” about the statements made by the Ghanaian president.

    “Ghana could have undertaken exchanges with the Burkinabe authorities on the security issue in order to have the right information,” it said.

    However, it did not confirm or deny the allegations. In a separate message to Reuters, a foreign ministry spokesperson said, without elaborating: “In any case, Burkina has not called on Wagner.”

    Burkina Faso also recalled its ambassador from Ghana for a meeting, the spokesperson said.

    Authorities in Ouagadougou have not commented publicly on speculations of working with Wagner, a mercenary group that was hired in neighbouring Mali to help fight armed groups.

    In a response on Thursday to Akufo-Addo’s remarks, Wagner did not directly address Ghana’s concerns. But the response, attributed to Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, accused Western governments and United Nations forces of carrying out some of the offences Wagner has been accused of in Africa.

    The prospect of Wagner expanding its presence in Africa has troubled Western powers such as France and the US, who say the group exploits mineral resources and commits human rights abuses in countries where it operates.

    Burkina Faso’s government spokesman did not answer calls and did not reply to a message requesting comment.

    An official at Ghana’s foreign ministry said no one was immediately available for comment.

    Burkina Faso is struggling to contain some of the same armed groups present in Mali and, like its neighbour, is ruled by a military government that came to power on promises to improve security.

    Mali’s decision to employ Wagner forces last year alienated it from its regional and Western allies and was one of the reasons why French forces pulled out of the country.

    Wagner forces have also fought in Libya, the Central African Republic and Mozambique.

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  • IMF agrees to give Ghana $3 billion debt bailout

    IMF agrees to give Ghana $3 billion debt bailout

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    ACCRA, Ghana — The International Monetary Fund has agreed to give Ghana $3 billion to try to get the West African nation’s debt under control, restore financial stability and help people most at risk from rising prices and other economic problems.

    The announcement this week say follows IMF officials’ two-week visit this month to Ghana’s capital Accra, where they discussed support for the country’s policy and reform plans with authorities. Ghana has been struggling with high public debt, rising inflation and a weakening currency.

    At a press conference Tuesday, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta said Ghana was “committed to the program and will work towards meeting the demands.” He said the agreement will help restore economic stability, tackle price spikes and strengthen the currency.

    “The Ghanaian authorities have committed to a wide-ranging economic reform program, which builds on the government’s Post-COVID-19 Program for Economic Growth (PC-PEG) and tackles the deep challenges facing the country,” Stephane Roudet, IMF’s mission chief to Ghana, said in a statement Monday.

    Ghana’s reforms are focused on shoring up public finances while protecting the vulnerable, he said. The changes include creating a medium-term plan to bring in revenue, increasing tax compliance, making the country’s finances more transparent and improving how public industries are handled.

    Ghana also announced it will restructure its debt and “committed to strengthening social safety nets, including reinforcing the existing targeted cash-transfer program for vulnerable households and improving the coverage and efficiency of social spending,” Roudet said.

    The goal is to restore economic stability and debt sustainability while laying the foundation for stronger growth, the IMF said.

    IMF managers and board members still must approve the three-year agreement, which comes under a program providing financial assistance to countries with balance-of-payments problems. Ghana’s partners and creditors also must acknowledge receiving financing assurances, the IMF statement said.

    The deal is a “crucial lifeline” and positive step, said Rukmini Sanyal, a Ghana analyst for the Economist Intelligence Unit, a research and analysis division of the Economist Group.

    Inflation reached more than 40% in October, the highest it’s been since July 2001 and well above the central bank’s target of 6% to 10%, according to Trading Economics, which provides global economic statistics. Prices accelerated by some 5% for food and more than 10% for non-food items, the company said.

    Public debt has jumped from more than 63% of economic output in 2019 to an estimated more than 100% this year, Sanyal said. The exchange rate also is under pressure and Ghana has lost access to international capital markets, provoking a drawdown in foreign exchange reserves, she said.

    The IMF says reducing inflation, boosting market confidence and making it easier for Ghana to withstand external shocks were priorities, with work from the Bank of Ghana on monetary policy and exchange rate flexibility and the government launching a domestic debt exchange.

    ———

    Mednick reported from Dakar, Senegal.

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  • Bitcoin App Strike Launches Instant, Cheap Remittances To Africa

    Bitcoin App Strike Launches Instant, Cheap Remittances To Africa

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    Bitcoin payments app Strike said in a statement Tuesday that it had launched Send Globally, a new feature that lets U.S. users instantly and cheaply send money to Africa.

    “With exorbitant fees to transfer funds in and out of Africa and incumbent providers halting services, payments companies are struggling to operate in Africa and people cannot send money home to their family members,” said Jack Mallers, Strike founder and CEO, in a statement. “Strike offers an opportunity for people to transfer their US dollars easily and instantly across borders.”

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    Namcios

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  • Built With Bitcoin Opens Bitcoin Technology Center In Ejisu, Ghana

    Built With Bitcoin Opens Bitcoin Technology Center In Ejisu, Ghana

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    The Built With Bitcoin Foundation (BWB) has opened a new Bitcoin Technology Center in Ejisu, Ghana, a city in Greater Kumasi, as a legacy for the inaugural Africa Bitcoin Conference. The center will be run by Ghanians, for Ghanians, according to a press release sent to Bitcoin Magazine.

    BWB Founders Ray Youssef and Yusuf Nessary plan to reveal the campus on Thursday December 8, 2022, with a tour attended by various members of the international Bitcoin community.

    The main goal of the Bitcoin Technology Center, according to the press release, “is to equip the local community with skills and knowledge within the finance and technology industries — it’s also intended to build community and foster a safe environment to learn.”

    Support for the facility comes from the Edwinase community, Blockchain Foundation Africa, and the Bitcoin community. Eight employees will work there, including administrators and lecturers.

    The release detailed some of the various subjects to be taught at the center, including, “Financial literacy: understanding money,” “Introduction to Bitcoin,” “Entrepreneurship,” “Introduction to computers” and “Introduction to coding.”

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    BtcCasey

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