The state-funded Ethiopian Media Authority (Ema) has issued a statement calling on the authorities to stop harassing media workers, particularly investigative journalists. It came after the privately owned Ethiopian Satellite Television (Esat TV) said last week that it had received what it called a letter of intimidation from a court in the capital, Addis Ababa. “Of late, a tendency to stop the ...

The authorities in Burkina Faso have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the deaths of 28 people whose bodies were found in the north-western town of Nouna. In a statement, the government said the killings were discovered on the night of 30 December and condemned the “unacceptable violence”. The Reuters news agency quotes prosecutors as saying that the victims were ...

The United States has dropped Burkina Faso from its AGOA trade preference program citing deep concerns over “unconstitutional change” in government in the West African country, the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) office said on Sunday. Frustrations over the government’s inability to curb an Islamist insurgency spurred two military coups in Burkina Faso in 2022. Both the previous and current juntas ...

The Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has expressed optimism that Ghana will continue on the path of economic emancipation and accelerated development this year. He has, therefore, stressed the need for Ghanaians to reposition their hands, minds, and hearts as the government deployed all efforts humanly possible for a happy new year. “I am very optimistic of Ghana’s future and my prayer ...

Former President, John Dramani Mahama, has urged Ghanaians to keep hopes alive in the New Year. According to him, despite the economic battering, the country has suffered in the closing year, Ghanaians “cannot give up on our dear motherland Ghana” in the face of incoming austerity measures and sacrifices 2023 brings. “As we face the future with fortitude, let us ...

The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers-Ghana (COPEC) is projecting a marginal drop in the prices of fuel products effective January 1, 2023. According to the Chamber, petrol is expected to be sold at a minimum price of GH¢9.30 per litre while diesel is expected to be sold between GH¢12.80 and GH¢15 per litre at various pumps. This will be a decline ...

The UN Security Council has denounced Taliban government policies targeting women and girls in Afghanistan. The Taliban have banned women from attending university and working for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) within the last week. The 15-member Security Council said it was “deeply alarmed” by the increasing restrictions on women’s education. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the latest restrictions “must be revoked”. A statement from ...

 Oil prices fell on Wednesday on concerns that rising COVID-19 cases in China, the world’s top oil importer, will disrupt its economic recovery and fuel demand growth as it unwinds its pandemic restrictions. Brent futures for February delivery fell 78 cents, or 0.9%, to $83.55 a barrel, by 0900 GMT. U.S. crude fell 75 cents, or 0.9%, to $78.78 per ...

Angola’s Supreme Court ordered on Tuesday the preventive seizure of assets of Isabel dos Santos, daughter of former president Eduardo dos Santos deceased in July this year. This is the second seizure of Isabel dos Santos assets in Angola since 2019.  The court order covers 100 percent of the shares of the company Embalvidro, of which the defendant is the beneficial owner as well as the balances of all bank ...

The international wildlife and conservation charity Born Free has warned that hippo numbers in Africa are continuing to decline as legislation, partly due to the tightening of the illegal ivory trade. The giant teeth of hippos which, like the tusks of warthogs, are also classified as ivory, have become much cheaper and easier to obtain than ivory from elephants. And ...