London (AFP) – The magical coaching touch of Australia’s Eddie Jones and New Zealanders Joe Schmidt and Vern Cotter is helping northern hemisphere rugby close the gap on their southern rivals, ex-South Africa coach Nick Mallett told AFP. The 60-year-old Mallett, under whose watch the Springboks went on a record 17-match winning streak in 1997-98, … Read more
Libreville (AFP) – Senegal coach Aliou Cisse insists Africa Cup of Nations opponents Cameroon are favourites to win the eagerly-awaited quarter-final in Franceville on Saturday. Pundits beg to differ, though, making the Senegalese Teranga Lions favourites not only to reach the semi-finals, but to go on and win the competition for the first time. Senegal … Read more
Franceville (Gabon) (AFP) – Senegal coach Aliou Cisse still looks back at the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations with a sense of unfinished business, so Saturday’s quarter-final against Cameroon offers a chance, partly, to settle an old score. The Lions of Teranga have never won the continental trophy, but they came mighty close 15 years … Read more
I CORINTHIANS 12:10-11 And to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills (NASB). INTRODUCTION In … Read more
There is absolutely no duplication of functions between the newly created ministry established by President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to cater to the especial needs of our inner-city and zongo communities around the country, contrary to what Dr. Eric Oduro-Osae, the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research at the Institute of Local Government Studies, would have … Read more
By Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK January 26, 2017 My last article on the presidential election was on December 5, 2016 but not had time to do any post-election analysis after the elections. However, numerous articles have been written on the subject since the Electoral Commission announced the results on Friday December 9, 2016. All the … Read more
Banjul (Gambia) (AFP) – President Adama Barrow arrived in The Gambia on Thursday to a jubilant welcome marking the beginning of the west African nation’s first democratic transfer of power, AFP journalists said. Dressed in flowing white robes and cap, Barrow stepped off the plane, with heavily-armed troops from Senegal and Nigeria standing by as … Read more
Banjul (Gambia) (AFP) – Jubilant Gambians on Thursday welcomed home their new President Adama Barrow, who was elected almost two months ago but forced to flee to Senegal when his predecessor refused to step aside. Dressed in flowing white robes and cap, Barrow stepped off the plane, with heavily-armed troops from Senegal and Nigeria standing … Read more
Oyem (Gabon) (AFP) – Stadiums may not be full at the Africa Cup of Nations but the supporters who do turn out create a noisy and colourful atmosphere — and in the case of DR Congo the government is giving a helping hand. The DRC’s capital Kinshasa is the home of “Sape”, a French acronym … Read more
London (AFP) – A British court on Thursday blocked pollution claims against Anglo-Dutch energy giant Shell by more than 40,000 Niger Delta residents demanding action over decades of oil spills in the region. Members of the Ogale and Bille communities had applied for the case to be heard in Britain, arguing they could not get … Read more
Abuja (AFP) – Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is “hale and hearty”, his government said Thursday, denying rumours in the press and on social media that he was seriously ill or even dead. Last week, the 74-year-old went to London for “routine medical check-ups” — the second such trip this year, the presidency said. But rumours … Read more
Gammarth (Tunisia) (AFP) – Tunisia’s UGTT labour union, which played a role in the 2011 uprising that toppled the country’s longtime dictator and its post-revolt transition, on Thursday elected a new leader. Noureddine Taboubi replaces Houcine Abbassi, who took office in 2011 just months after the ouster of strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. His … Read more
“I cannot comment much but I think we are going to give it to charity. We are not going to use that car” (Bugri Naabu). WHEN PUBLIC CORRUPTION AND CHARITY—PHILANTHROPY FALL IN LOVE It is our humble submission that Bugri Naabu’s intention to donate the so-called “Mahama’s Bribe Vehicle” to charity is a commendable idea, … Read more
Khartoum (AFP) – Sudanese opposition leader and ex-prime minister Sadiq al-Mahdi returned to the country on Thursday more than two years after he fled abroad, his party said. Mahdi, whose civilian government was overthrown in a 1989 coup that brought President Omar al-Bashir to power, flew in to Khartoum, said his daughter Mariam al-Mahdi, deputy … Read more
Lagos (AFP) – Nearly two years after taking office, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari is making good on an election vow to help the poor, deploying a welfare scheme that is gaining traction across Africa. From now until the end of the year, one million Nigerians will receive 5,000 naira ($16.4, 15.3 euros) a month in … Read more
(By Marricke Kofi Gane) So, we have a vetting process going for the Designate Ministers. Some have been interesting and some have been downright either shameful, lacklustre or as some of my friends will say, SLOW. For me and am sure many others, two fundamental questions remain that underlie whether or not this exercise is … Read more
Dakar (AFP) – Jubilant Gambians were preparing to welcome home their new president on Thursday after a protracted crisis over an election dispute that forced him to flee to neighbouring Senegal. Adama Barrow’s return will cap days of anxious waiting in the tiny former British colony that was thrown into chaos when long-time president Yahya … Read more
Emmanuel Mensah Acquah is rare, simply because he has a rare passion. I once wrote that, “I can easily predict the success, stagnation or failure of anyone by assessing the level of his or her passion.” Yes, passion is a most important law required to emerge really successful in life. Interestingly, young people of today … Read more
Security remains a cardinal principle for all citizens that they move and act in the social fabric. Our age, defined by many as postmodern, has many aspects of continuous development. Acting politically, in the spread of human rights, humanitarian International law and ensuring security, means being aware that, the context on which it plays, is … Read more
Khartoum (AFP) – Sudanese opposition leader and ex-prime minister Sadiq al-Mahdi will return to the country on Thursday more than two years after he fled abroad, a senior official in his party said. Mahdi, whose civilian government was overthrown in the 1989 Islamist-backed coup that brought President Omar al-Bashir to power, has been in self-imposed … Read more