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The US is reportedly cutting $100m (£75m) in aid to Ethiopia over a controversial mega dam being built on a tributary of the River Nile.
A government source said the move had been triggered by Ethiopia’s move to start filling the dam before reaching agreement with Egypt and Sudan.
Egypt has long been opposed to any development on the Nile that could reduce the amount of water it receives. Ethiopia says it needs the dam to provide a reliable electricity supply.
Once fully operational, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd) will be the largest hydro-electric plant in Africa and provide power to up to 65 million Ethiopians. “Up to $100m or so will be affected, of which $26m is funding that expires at the end of the [financial year],” a US congressional source told Reuters news agency.
The funding affected is linked to nutrition, regional or border security, political competition and consensus-building, the official said. Funding for projects connected to HIV/Aids, migration and refugee assistance and the food for peace programme would be unaffected.
A US state department official told Reuters Ethiopia’s decision to start filling the dam while negotiations with Egypt and Sudan were under way had undermined confidence in the talks and was inconsistent with commitments Ethiopia had made.
“The United States previously and repeatedly expressed its concern that commencing the filling of the Gerd before all necessary dam safety measures were implemented created serious risks,” the official said.
Brazil have announced they will become one of the few nations to pay their women’s and men’s football teams equally.
Brazil’s female players such as Marta will be paid the same as Neymar, Gabriel Jesus and Roberto Firmino. “The CBF has equalled the prize money and allowances between men’s and women’s football, which means the women players will earn the same as the men,” said the federation’s president Rogerio Caboclo.
Brazil join Australia, Norway and New Zealand among the nations who pay their men and women the same amount.
It will be applied to the teams participating in the Olympics next year as well as the next World Cup tournaments.
Caboclo said: “It will be proportionally the same as what Fifa proposes for women, that is to say, there will be no more gender difference in remuneration between men and women.”
Last year, current women’s world champions the United States sued their federation, alleging discrimination over pay and conditions. The team appealed earlier this year after a judge dismissed their case.
The World Cup-winning team’s long-running feud with US Soccer has been a public and bitter battle and the players had been seeking $66m (£53m) in damages under the Equal Pay Act.
‘The ambition is to make WSL best in the world’ An influx in big-name transfers will make the Women’s Super League the best in the world, according to the FA’s head of professional football Kelly Simmons.
WSL clubs have been active in the transfer market this summer, attracting World Cup winners and European stars to England’s top division. Simmons insists additions like Manchester City’s Rose Lavelle and Sam Mewis, along with Chelsea signing Pernille Harder, will be good for clubs and fans alike.
“It’s going to be fantastic to see top English players play alongside the likes of Rose Lavelle, one of the best players in the world”, Simmons told Sky Sports News.
“It’s a real statement for where the Women’s Super League is, it’s regarded as one of the best if not the best league in the world. That is our ambition.”
Member of Parliament for North Tongu constituency in the Volta Region, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has promised to offer financial compensation at the end of this month (September) to all 150 workers of Mushamat Farms in constituency who were laid off in May this year due to the adverse economic impact of COVID-19.
This is the second time Mr. Ablakwa is putting smiles on the faces of his constituents.
In May, 2020, the legislator introduced an initiative which offered cash compensation package to all 570 teaching and non-teaching staff of some 45 private schools in his constituency who were affected by pandemic.
Taking to his Facebook page, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said”As we did for private school teachers, I have formally communicated my intention to offer financial compensation at the end of this month (September) to all the 150 workers of Mushamat Farms in my beloved constituency who were laid off in May this year due to the adverse economic impact of COVID-19.”
He expressed his profound gratitude to some 379 workers at the banana exporting plantation who continue to work tirelessly under challenging conditions to keep the company afloat in these trying corona times.
“I salute the other 379 workers at the banana exporting plantation who continue to work tirelessly under challenging conditions to keep the company afloat in these trying corona times”
“All workers are assured that as natural allies, we shall continue to seek their welfare and keep them in our thoughts always
“Humbly, let us all remember the plight of less fortunate pandemic era workers and reach out to them when we can,” he added.
Read full post by the North Tongu MP.
As we did for private school teachers, I have formally communicated my intention to offer financial compensation at the end of this month (September) to all the 150 workers of Mushamat Farms in my beloved constituency who were laid off in May this year due to the adverse economic impact of COVID-19.
I salute the other 379 workers at the banana exporting plantation who continue to work tirelessly under challenging conditions to keep the company afloat in these trying corona times.
All workers are assured that as natural allies, we shall continue to seek their welfare and keep them in our thoughts always.
Humbly, let us all remember the plight of less fortunate pandemic era workers and reach out to them when we can.
A newborn baby girl who was buried by her mother in a bush at Ajumako Ebowkurase, a suburb of Ekwamase in the Ajumako Enyan Essiam District of the Central Region has been found alive.
According to eyewitnesses, they went to the bush and heard the cry of the baby and quickly rushed to the scene, only to find out that the baby had been buried there with her umbilical cord forcefully chopped off by her “runaway mother”
The eyewitnesses said they quickly informed the elderly people in the town and sent the baby to the Abura Dunkwa Government hospital. Although the mother of the baby has not been found, the people of Ajumako Ebowkurase say they will do everything to locate her.
In an interview with Atinka News, the Regent of the Ekwamase community, Alhaji Bukari Yussif said that this was the first time such an incident had occurred in the community.
“Our research indicates that the person intentionally did that and run away. I dug the grave and removed the baby and put her in a head pan and carried her to the hospital,” he said.
The Assembly Member of the Ekwamase Electoral area, Isaac Beasie Acquah also appealed to people living at Ekwamase and its environs to report any suspected person for proper directives.
“I am appealing to all the people living in my electoral area to report any person who was pregnant and had given birth without seeing her baby to the police for proper investigations,” he said.
The Ajumako Enyan Essiam District Social Welfare Officer, Madam Abena Serwaa Opare also said they will soon send the baby to an orphanage home. Meanwhile, the baby is sound and healthy and currently at the hospital receiving treatment.
STRANEK-Africa has attributed political interference to the rising attacks on military personnel by civilians.
According to STRANEK-Africa, the major cause of civilians attacking security agencies without fear or favour is the loss of trust in the security agencies due to political interference.
This comes after the attack on two military men at Dome Faase by civilians over a disputed parcel of land.
In a statement, the organisation said,”Political interference has caused a reluctant attitude in leadership of the security agencies in cracking the whip when it deems fit with regards to professional misconducts of some security operatives.”
The organisation also noted that,”It is not the habit of Ghanaians to attack security operatives and that is why it is prudent to rekindle confidence as well as respect for the security agencies of Ghana by divorcing political interference from the mode of operations of the security agencies.”
It therefore said,”Going into the election, the whip must be cracked when there is misconduct and unethical exhibitions by security operatives.”
Below is a statement:
For immediate release: 02.09.2020
ATTACK ON MILITARY PERSONNEL AT DOMEFAASE; POLITICAL INTERFERENCE IS A MAJOR CAUSE- STRANEK-AFRICA
STRANEK-Africa joins the Coalition of Civil Societies Against Political Vigilantism (CCSAPV) in condemning the brutal assault of the two military men which led to the infliction of knife wounds and their uniforms torn over a piece of land at Dome Faase in Obom Domeabra Municipal. Culprits should be made to face the full rigors of law.
The military men went to Dome Faase to intervene in a possible clash through the “Operation Calm Life” but were rather assaulted by residents. This reminds us of the murder of Major Maxwell Adam Mahama who was killed at Denkyira Obuasi in the Central Region on May 29, 2017.
It is clear to we at STRANEK-Africa that, the wanton clashes with security agencies has become rampant and that is of great concern. The primary aim of the military and other security agencies is to protect, maintain law and order.
Hence, why should the military be disrespected by civilians? Gone are days where civilians had maximum respect for the military even when they are not on duty.
This must stop but it is imperative to understand that a major cause of civilians attacking security agencies without fear or favour is the loss of trust in the security agencies due to political interference.
Political interference has caused a reluctant attitude in leadership of the security agencies in cracking the whip when it deems fit with regards to professional misconducts of some security operatives.
It is not the habit of Ghanaians to attack security operatives and that is why it is prudent to rekindle confidence as well as respect for the security agencies of Ghana by divorcing political interference from the mode of operations of the security agencies. Going into the election, the whip must be cracked when there is misconduct and unethical exhibitions by security operatives.
Ghana can be assured of democratic governance at its best if steps are taken to restore confidence and respect for its security agencies.
We are all involved in building our motherland Ghana.
Happy new month!
Signed. Nii Tettey Tetteh Executive Director +233 559 042 914
Emmanuel Osei Director of Policy and Political Affairs +47 412 45 303
The Vice Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has called on the people of Ahwaiso in the Bibiani Ahwaiso Bekwai constituency of the Western North Region to take into account policies implemented by the erstwhile John Mahama administration which enhanced the socio economic development of their area as they make the decision to vote in the December 7 elections.
She said this while addressing teeming supporters of the NDC who came out to welcome her as she began a four-day tour of the region.
The NDC running mate noted that there must be peace for the country to achieve the development that Ghanaians are yearning for, and invited all to pursue that path as the country heads into the election season.
She, however, urged them to resist any form of intimidation, as all Ghanaians have equal rights.
She highlighted inclusivity as a foundation for the country’s success, adding that equity in the allocation of resources for all Ghanaians would be the trademark of the next Mahama government.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang also urged the people to jealously guard their voters’ identification cards in order to have the opportunity to vote massively for Mr. Mahama and the NDC’s parliamentary candidate on election day.
The NDC vice presidential candidate was accompanied by Ms. Emelia Authur, a former Deputy Western Regional Minister, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a former Deputy Minister for Education and Member of Parliament for North Tongu, and Mrs. Mawuena Trebarh, Spokesperson and Head of Communications for the running mate.
Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent, Germany’s government says.
It said toxicology tests at a military laboratory showed “unequivocal proof” of an agent from the Novichok group.
Mr Navalny was airlifted to Berlin for treatment after falling ill during a flight in Russia’s Siberia region last month. He has been in a coma since.His team says he was poisoned on President Vladimir Putin’s orders.
The Kremlin has dismissed the allegation. The German government said it condemned the attack in the strongest terms and called for Russia to urgently provide an explanation.”It is a disturbing development that Alexei Navalny was the victim of a chemical nerve agent in Russia,” it said.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has met senior ministers to discuss the next steps, the statement said.
The Kremlin said it had not received any information from Germany that Mr Navalny had been poisoned using a Novichok nerve agent, Russia’s Tass news agency reported.
The German government said it would inform the EU and Nato military alliance of its findings.”[The federal government] will discuss an appropriate joint response with the partners in the light of the Russian response,” it said.
Mr Navalny’s wife Yulia Navalnaya and Russia’s ambassador to Germany would also be informed of the findings, the statement said.
What happened to Navalny?
Mr Navalny fell ill on a flight from Tomsk to Moscow. His supporters suspect poison was placed in a cup of tea at Tomsk airport.The flight of the prominent Putin critic was diverted to Omsk, where doctors treated him for three days before he was transferred to the Charité hospital in Berlin.
image captionMr Navalny’s transfer to Germany came after three days in hospital in Omsk
The Kremlin says Russian doctors administered atropine – which can be used to treat the effects of nerve agents – but found no evidence of poisoning.Mrs Navalnaya said she feared Russian doctors had delayed his transfer as authorities were trying to wait for evidence of any chemical substance to disappear.Doctors at Charité hospital have said his condition is serious but not life-threatening.
What is Novichok?
The name Novichok means “newcomer” in Russian, and applies to a group of advanced nerve agents developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s.
Novichok agents have similar effects to other nerve agents – they act by blocking messages from the nerves to the muscles, causing a collapse of many bodily functions.
While some Novichok agents are liquids, others are thought to exist in solid form.
This means they can be dispersed as an ultra-fine powder.
Novichoks were designed to be more toxic than other chemical weapons, so some versions begin to take effect rapidly – in the order of 30 seconds to two minutes.In 2018 an ex-Russian spy, his daughter and a couple were poisoned with a Novichok agent in the British city of Salisbury.
Russian suspects identified in the case are alleged to have smeared the nerve agent on the door handle of Sergei Skripal’s home.
The attack left Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia critically ill. Dawn Sturgess, 44, was later exposed to the same nerve agent and died in hospital.
Who is Navalny?
Mr Navalny is an anti-corruption campaigner who has led nationwide protests against the Russian authorities.
He has called Mr Putin’s party a place of “crooks and thieves” that is “sucking the blood out of Russia”.However, he has been banned from standing against Mr Putin in elections because of a conviction for embezzlement.
He denies the crime, saying his legal troubles are Kremlin reprisals for his fierce criticism.
There have been a number of previous attacks on high-profile critics or opponents of President Putin, including politicians, intelligence officers and journalists. The Kremlin has always denied involvement.
The Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabialamila is the head of high powered Nigerian delegation in the country for a two day visit to the Parliament of Ghana.
His counterpart, Prof. Aaron Michael Oquaye, met the delegation on arrival at the Kotoka International Airport.
The two are expected to hold talks on matters pertaining to relations between the two countries following the implementation of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Act 2013, Act 865.
Setting the tone for the visit when he welcomed the Nigerian delegation, Prof. Oquaye said Ghana and Nigeria are like the tongue and the teeth, and although they may offend each other, they also derive great pleasure from the benefits of coexistence and said it is important that the good relations between the two countries are maintained at all times.
He expressed the hope that the next two days will be mutually beneficial to the two countries and further strengthen the already strong bond between Ghana and Nigeria.
The Nigerian Speaker, Rt. Hon. Gbajabiamila agreed with his Ghanaian Counterpart on the good relations between the two countries and hoped that at the end of his two day visit, a good resolution will be found to the issues confronting the two countries, bearing in mind, the national interests of the individual countries.
Private security companies provide easy access of employment in the country but most Youths and unemployed graduates dislike this opportunity. We have over hundred private security companies in Ghana but due to lack of ideology and vision our leaders always fail to execute creation of jobs as expected. In this case, citizen’s are struggling to get employment.
Government comes and government goes but still can’t find solutions to this unemployment situation in the country because they have ignored private sector employments. It’s obvious for someone to engage his or her self in to this kind of job which responsibility is to protect lives and properties without any reasonable wage, no condition of services, no insurance package in case of any accident while on duty, no loans for staff , scanty salaries, working hours are more than stipulated by labour law in Ghana.
Working hours should be scrap or over time should be accepted. Contribute to SSNIT must be consistent. Insured employees against accident while on duty should be a must. Promote employees accordingly. Employees should be trained to meet standard of protecting lives and properties before deployment. Employees should be well uniformed
Government should prosecute any company that will violate the law. In view of this unemployment rate will drastically reduce because the service will now look attractive.
Looking into reality of this, the expenditure of government during recruitment excercise of national security will automatically reduce. why because, government will now go to this security companies and pick and select already trained gaurds and Polish them in few weeks to become national security officers. This will completely transform the creation of jobs politicians are not thinking about till date. Think Responsibly, Think Jobs.
