Listen to Africa in Focus on Ecowas@40 by Emmanuel K Bensah Jr #np on #SoundCloud
http://soundcloud.com/emmanuel-k-bensah-jr/africa-in-focus-on-ecowas-40
sent from mobile phone 》www.ekbensahdotnet.org
Hosted by E.K.Bensah Jr, a Research & Communications Specialist, the show seeks to disrupt the African Rising narrative by demystifying;unpacking; and explaining ECOWAS;African Union; South-South Cooperation policies around Africa's integration.
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Africa in Focus on Ecowas@40 - SoundCloud
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Post-show video clip of Right to Information Coalition's Ugonna Ugaikwe
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PODCAST>>EPISODE #26:Unearthing Voices on Africa’s Development (2): Africa’s Emerging Fashionistas
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Sunday, December 7, 2014
Post-show Video Clip of #EbolaWatch's Kobby Blay
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AFRICA IN FOCUS >> Coming up on 9 December, 2014: Understanding UNSCR 1325, & Calling for Media engagement on Women’s greater Participation in Peace and Security
Understanding UNSCR 1325, & Calling for Media engagement on Women’s greater Participation in Peace and Security
At 7 months, the Africa in Focus (AIF) show has already covered issues of peace and security twice – first was in May on peace and security challenges on the continent, including the fight to rid the sub-region of Boko Haram. Secondly was only a few weeks ago when we spoke to WANEP’s Aliou Diallo on the way forward on Burkina Faso.
Clearly, being in West Africa, peace and security issues remain second nature to our collective desire to foster a sustainable sub-region for us all. And this is not without reason: West Africa is well-recognised globally for establishing, through ECOWAS, important structures – such as the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework of 2008; Mediation & Security Council, among others – that have helped contain the sub-region from any fear of implosion.
In the 25th year of ECOWAS’ first-ever peace & security intervention (through ECOMOG) into Liberia to save that country from destruction, it is timely that, as we peek into 2015, we are confronted by two important celebrations – 40 years of ECOWAS; and 15 years of the signing of UNSCR1325.
The Security Council adopted resolution (S/RES/1325) on women and peace and security on 31 October 2000. The resolution reaffirms the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction and stresses the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security. The resolution provides a number of important operational mandates, with implications for Member States and the entities of the United Nations system.
As we speak, no less than the AU Special Envoy for Peace and Security, Benita Diop, is in Abuja, Nigeria. She is accompanied by the Ambassador of Niger to AU, Diallo Amina Djibo, former President of the African Court of Human and Peoples Right, justice Sophia Kufor, Liberian peace activist, Leymah Gnowee, Harriette William and John Ikubaje.
The envoy, who had in the past addressed various meetings on AU’s effort to secure the girls, said the continental body would continue to engage officials and all concerned on the best measures to protect the girl-child through robust policies on education, employment opportunities and better welfare.
It will be recalled that the key point of reference for the newly-created special envoy post is UN security council resolution 1325, which affirms the special needs of women and girls in conflict situations and the unique role they can play in peacemaking and post-conflict reconstruction.
Comfort Ero, Africa programme director at International Crisis Group, an independent, non-profit organisation committed to preventing and resolving deadly conflict, believes the appointment of an envoy demonstrates the AU is serious about establishing effective mechanisms to address the role of women in peace and security.
Such a landmark resolution needs elaboration, discussion, and reflection – not just by policy-makers, civil society and the like, but also…by the media.
It is against this background that we are dedicating this edition to discussing and reflecting over UNSCR1325. Even as we have a fair idea of what it signifies, it is a given that, the media is key in any kind of awareness-raising for which reason the WPSI of the KAIPTC organized a two-day Media Forum from 25-26 November. And for which reason AIF has set the pace by being the first programme on English-speaking private radio to concretely discuss UNSCR1325 in a way that has yet to be discussed.
Guiding Questions to be answered:
· What is, and the rationale, behind UNSCR 1325?
· Why is it important to monitor UNSCR 1325?
· What is the special role women bring to fostering peace and security for which reason UNSCR1325 remains critical in discourse of peace and security?
· Why has it remained uncelebrated for 14 years?
· What is comparative advantage West Africans have to bring pressure to bear on awareness-raising of UNSCR1325?
· Why is the media important on sensitization of UNSCR1325?
· What does UNSCR1325 tell us about the global development community’s efforts on gender, peace & security (UNWOMEN *july 2010 by UNGA* /AU Special Envoy/15 years in 2015)
Guests in the studio:
Ø Francis Ameyibor, Ghana News Agency(GNA)
Ø Ayo Ayoola-Amale, Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom(WILPF)
Ø Mercy Osei-Konadu, women and gender advocate
On the line:
· Kingsley Ofei-Nkansah, General Agricultural Workers Union(GAWU) @13h10 for our “Africa in the News” segment
· Kofi Akpabli, award-winning Tourism writer @13h25 for our “Africa in the News” segment
· representative from WACSI/WACSOF @13h40 for our “Africa in the News” segment
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Fw: Coming up!» Unearthing Voices on Africa’s Development (2): Africa’s Emerging Fashionistas
26th Edition:
Unearthing Voices on Africa's Development (2):
Africa's Emerging Fashionistas
The Africa in Focus show is 7 months this week, and will be continuing its "Unearthing Voices on Africa's Development" series from last week by speaking to two young women who have both made an impact in Ghana's fashion industry.
The first is Esi Cleland, former popular blogger-turned-entrepreneur, who has been co-managing Afro-Chic since 2009. She will be speaking to AIF about the genesis of AfroChic, and offer an insight into the journey so far, and the future.
The second is Naa Oyo Quartey, an Occupational Hygiene professional, who is an award-winning Lifestyle blogger and wedding photographer. We will be speaking to her about the passion she shares with Esi on why they both chose to use the internet to market their businesses at a time when selling online is not the most reliable way.
What drives their audacity of a vision for a future where Ghanaians can purchase locally-made goods from the comfort of their homes?
Finally, in the different segments, we will be speaking to Ugonna, of the Right to Information Coalition, on an upcoming Media Encounter on 3 December about the Coalition's work. We will also speak to Health and Communication officer at West Africa Aids Foundation on what the Foundation will be doing this week to celebrate World Aids Day, celebrated worldwide every year on 1 December.
Kobby Blay will be in the studio to offer us the radio version of EbolaWatch, and remind us not to be complacent on the fight to rid West Africa of Ebola and, ofcourse, keep it away from Ghana!
Guiding Questions to be answered:
· What is the state of Ghana's fashion industry?
Why AfroChic, and what is its Unique Selling Proposition?
Why does Ghana need bloggers on lifestyle/fashion blog?
Can Ghana's fashion industry be extrapolated to a regional, and continental market?
Why a Coalition on the Right to Information?
Why a Media Encounter on RTI?
What is West Africa Aids Foundation doing to celebrate 1 Dec World Aids Day?
What strides has Ghana made on combating AIDS?
Guests in the studio:
Esi Cleland, co-founder AfroChic
Ugonna Ukaigwe, Right to Information Coalition
Raymond Ablorh, DW Akademie
Kobby Blay, EbolaWatch
On the line:
Naa Oyo Quartey, Founder of Roots by Naa/Lifestyle & Fashion blogger
Penelope Agbai, Health Information Officer, West Africa Aids Foundation @13h10
Recorded phone interview of Margaret Alexander Reheboth, Head of Women, Peace and Security Institute at KAIPTC
@ ekbensah | www.ekbensahdotnet.org. | gplus.to/ekbensah | Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
Monday, December 1, 2014
PODCAST>>EPISODE #25:Celebrating the 25th Africa Industrialisation Day; and Unearthing Voices on Africa’s Development (1):
EPISODE #25
Research & Co-ordination: E.K.Bensah Jr
Executive Producer: E.K.Bensah Jr
"Dear friends,
Kindly find the link to the podcast of #AfricainFocus show on Tuesday 25 November, 2014.
We spent some 15 minutes getting a quick update from Enoch A Sackey, Office Manager, of Furniture and Wood Association of Ghana(FAWAG) on why it remains an important association on which government should rely upon to deliver high-quality furniture for even Ghana's parliament.
We spent the 25th edition of the show looking at two important issues: the first part of the show was on the theme of the 25th anniversary of Africa Industrialisation Day, which was celebrated on 20th November around the world. It is for this reason we spoke to FAWAG. We followed that interview with one of Samuel Mawutor, of Civic Response/FORESTWATCH to give us a summary of some of the major outcomes from the four-day Forest Forum that was held last week in Accra. We touched on the issue of Rosewood, and examined the reasons why government had banned its export, and why the Chinese were so interested in it.
As part of the show's series unearthing robust voices in Africa's development, we spoke to a former official of the West Africa Commission on Drugs, Mrs. Araba Arhin, who served as a Coordinator on a short-term project under the Commission at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre(KAIPTC). Araba gave us a refreshing insight into drug policy dynamics in the sub-region, and proffered a way forward, including the need for the sub-region to own its problems.
We look forward to comments!
In solidarity!
Emmanuel"
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