COMING UP!>>Ep.75 | Season 4, Ep.10 | Demystifying Africa’s Integration through ECOWAS and African Union dynamics – or a case of unpacking the Brussels-based PERIA programme & the Nairobi-based State of The [African] Union

 Episode #75

(Season 4; Ep.10):  

State of the Union (SOTU) & ECDPM's PERIA programme

Demystifying Africa’s Integration through ECOWAS and African Union dynamics –

or a case of unpacking the Brussels-based PERIA programme & the Nairobi-based

 State of The [African] Union

Season 4 is STILL on the theme of “making money for Africa”.

We commenced the Season unpacking the nitty-gritty of the Creative Economy, and concluded that Film, more than any other cog in the Creative Economy wheel, was probably the most dominant within that Economy.

In episode 2, we appreciated how, if managed properly, Sports could become the biggest employer in Ghana, the sub region, and the Continent.

In episode 3, we started to treat the all-important topic of customer service, concluding that, Ghana can achieve an “insanely customer-centric culture” as seen in the West, but it takes exposure and training of frontline staff to do that.

In episode 4, we concluded that East Africa continues to rise, while episode 5 helped demystify Africa’s agriculture under the AU’s flagship programme of CAADP, concluding that issues around Agribusiness and nutrition will dominate discussions around Agriculture after the 12^th CAADP Partnership Platform meeting that was held in Accra mid-April.

In episode 6, we piggy-backed on the *UNCTAD E-Commerce week* that took place from 18-22 April in Geneva, concluding the show on Cyber-crime with the shocking conclusion that Ghana’s Cyber-awareness is at a shockingly low threshold.

Episode 7 saw us in a conversation with the West Africa Civil Society Institute for updates on latest activities, and publications, concluding that it was necessary to have a conversation about African philanthropy.

Episode 8 shone the spotlight on AfriTourism for the fourth time, concluding that the “Think Ghana, Think Cocoa” venture, which was unveiled at a Marketing competition at the University of Ghana Business School in April, needs immense support as it has put cocoa very significantly into conversations around tourism.

Last week’s episode sought to unpack Model ECOWAS Summit that will take place on ECOWAS Day – 28 May, 2016.

Now for the 18^th May edition of Africa in Focus, in the spirit of Regional Integration month, traditionally scheduled for May since 2013, we have yet-another special edition celebrating Africa’s integration at both ECOWAS and African Union levels.

At a time that Togo will be celebrating African Integration Week from 21-25 May under the auspices of its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we believe it is even more important to consolidate the spirit of conversations around Africa’s integration by speaking to different experts who can help us better-understand why Africa’s integration remains very relevant to the continent’s development.

It is auspicious to further be having this conversation at the cusp of the 25^th anniversary of the Abuja Treaty establishing the African Economic Community, or the de facto blueprint of Africa’s integration in six steps – three regional, three continental.

                                                                      

June is an important month for Africa’s integration: not only is it the quarter-century celebration of the Abuja Treaty or the month in which at Africa in Focus, we discussed African integration back in 2014 – by speaking to the UNECA’s Dr.Joseph Attah-Mensah; Ashesi University’s Dr.Lloyd Amoah; and WACSI’s Charles Van Dyck, -- but the month in which the Tripartite Free Trade Area was launched in Egypt in 2015.

On 14 April, Africa in Focus was invited to a lunchtime seminar of the launch of the Brussels-based Economic Centre for Development, Policy & Management (ECDPM)’s PERIA programme (Political Economy of Regional Integration in Africa). On Friday 13 May, PERIA was launched at the AU Commission, but as yet-another novel programme, how much does it complement ECDPM’s work on regional integration? To this end, we will be speaking to Dr. Bruce Byiers, Senior Policy Officer at ECDPM, -- LIVE FROM TOGO – to help us understand and better-unpack the PERIA programme and its value-add to conversations around regional integration.

Our second conversation will be with Osai Ojigho – Coordinator of Kenya-based CSO – who is no stranger to Africa in Focus Show or its sister programme – the XYZ Africa News Bulletin@8.

Her special area of interest is that of the African Union, and Member States commitment and compliance to its protocols.

This is compelling and cutting-edge content on African integration, & ECOWAS made easier.

How can you afford to miss it a week away from the continent’s celebration of AU day on 25 May?

Join us if you can at 2.05pm on 18 May, 2016.

Call us on the following number

+233(302)777.173

Guiding questions

Ø  What is the rationale behind PERIA?

Ø  What is the added-value to the conversation on Africa’s integration?

Ø  What about AU Member States’ and their compliance, or lack thereof, towards Protocols?

Guests on the line:

Ø Osai Ojigho, Co-ordinator, State of the Union, Kenya LIVE FROM NAIROBI

Ø Dr.Bruce Byiers, Senior Policy Officer, ECDPM Brussels Office, Belgium LIVE FROM Lome, TOGO

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*more details will be available soon on www.africainfocusradioshow.org ; africainfocusshow.blogspot.com.

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Call Radio XYZ93.1FM on +233(302)777.173

  

EXCLUSIVE from Addis at High-Level Conference on Data Revolution: Woes of a Pan-African Parliamentarian

Hon. Dr.Bernadette Lahai, Member of Pan-African Parliament/

On Day Two of the High-Level Conference on Data Revolution, I met a number of very interesting people. Some are experts in data; some are journalists. Many others are on a learning curve to understand, and assess how data can be capitalised on for the betterment of Africa's integration. I must say, though, that the two people that most-caught my attention were no other than representatives of the Pan-African-Parliament (PAP)--and they have very interesting stories to tell. It was quite clear from my interview with both of them that all is not well at the Midrand-based Pan-African Parliament. They spoke to me on the sidelines of the High-Level Conference.

by E.K.Bensah Jr, Addis, Ababa

Being a Pan-african Parliamentarian is not quite well cut out as it appears. I had the priviledge of interviewing Hon Dr.Bernadette Lahai (also MP in Sierra Leone Parliament) who bemoaned the poor visibility of the Pan-African Parliament(PAP)--even in Midrand, South Africa, where it is located. "Not even the South African Broadcasting Corporation(SABC) gives publicity to our work", she said, neither do BBC or Al-Jazeera. In the light of this poor visibility, explained her colleague Jacob Odade, the PAP was focussing on communication as their strategic focus.

 Hon, Dr.Lahai explained how, despite possessing an African Union diplomatic passport, she was compelled to show her national passport as well when at the airport in South Africa. Additionally, at a time when the PAP has embarked on a Communication strategy that stresses visibility of PAPs, there is no visibility of a new protocol that would seek to make PAP a legislative tool, with binding decisions--as seen at the East African Legislative Assembly(EALA). This new protocol seeks to also make Members of the Pan-African Parliament permanent for 5(five) years so  they can dedicate more work to the continental legislature, and needs 28 member states before it comes into effect. To date, no country has yet to ratify it since it was tabled at the PAP in 2014.

This new protocol would also allow for the establishment of so-called "PAP desks" at the ministries of Foreign Affairs of Member States. This would not have to be new paid-for positions, avers the PAP, but could be positions added onto other staff of the Ministry. She was worried by the fact that each AU Member State sends five members to the PAP, but most often, many citizens are unable to explain what the PAPs are doing for the benefit of their nation.

Jacob Odade, of Pan-African Parliament

Another challenge for the PAP's work is accommodation. They are currently living in an office space on land that is even not permanent for the work members of the PAP do. Hon. Dr.Lahai proposed that the South African government could build hostels, which could be rented for the Parliamentarians. In addition, much like how the AU has established a Conference Centre Complex for hire, the government of South Africa could do same to ensure some revenue is accrued to the Parliament. Equally challenging for the Pan-African Parliamentarian is the analogue way in which they continue to work. At a time when the South African government has established e-government, 

Pressed on whether she would prefer the Pan-African Parliament re-locating to the home of the African Union here in Addis, she said that would not be a bad idea, as it would be easier for the legislature to have consultative meetings with the African Union Commission, and its Commissioners -- which it already does. 

 Hon. Dr.Lahai is Chairman of the Committee on Transport, Industry, Communication, Energy, Science & Technology(TICEST), which is aligned to the African Union's own structures


VIDEO CLIP (below): Listen to Hon. Dr.Bernadette Lahai, member of the Pan-African Parliament speak to the issue of WHY Data is important to Africa's integration. As an agriculturalist, she says the book that has just been launched --"The Emerging Data Revolution in Africa"-- will be referred to at the Pan-African Parliament for policy discussions.

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Listen to Hon. Dr.Bernadette Lahai, member of the Pan-African Parliament speak to the issue of WHY Data is important to Africa's integration. As an agriculturalist, she says the book that has just been launched --"The Emerging Data Revolution in Africa"-- will be referred to at the Pan-African Parliament for policy discussions.
Posted by Emmanuel K Bensah Jr on Saturday, March 28, 2015

PODCASTS>> "AFRICA IN FOCUS: Peace & Security in West Africa (2):Burkina Faso... (11 November, 2014)

Due to unforeseen technical challenges, the live show on Radio XYZ93.1FM was unable to come on. However, we were able to arrange recorded phone interviews with our guests, which are available for download -- as always -- for free!

Please find below the list of guests booked for the 23rd edition of the Show. Simply click on their names to start downloading a podcast of the interviews Emmanuel had with them.


EPISODE #23
Research & Co-ordination: E.K.Bensah Jr
Executive Producer: E.K.Bensah Jr

• Morgan Asiedu, ECOBANK

Executive Director Legal; Human Resource & Compliance Mr.Asiedu explains to Emmanuel why ECOBANK Day was celebrated on 8 November this year. Other questions answered included, what the future is for the Pan-African bank almost 25 years of its existence in Ghana. Mr.Asiedu assured observers uneasy about the recent acquisition of shares by Qatar National Bank, and South Africa's NEDBANK acquisition as in no way diluting the Pan-Africanist aspiration of the bank, but a way of the Bank learning from these non-West African entities. The future for ECOBANK is about consolidation -- not necessarily expansion. Asiedu maintains ECOBANK's two-fold vision includes building a "world-class financial institution", and contributing to "financial integration and development of Africa".

• Alimou Diallo, West Africa Network for Peace-building 

Regional Coordinator of WANEP explained to Emmanuel the outcome of the two-day ECOWAS Summit, and how both the AU and ECOWAS have called upon Burkina Faso to follow the path of civilian rule. He maintains that, given it remains a popular uprising, the West African country has not been suspended from ECOWAS, with the diplomats preferring alternatives, including the appointment of Senegalese President Macky Sall as head of the Regional Contact Group to Burkina. It would not only be Sall who would mediate, but one who would help coordinate a multiplicity of efforts by ECOWAS, the AU, and the UN. 

He disputed Emmanuel's analysis that perhaps it is "time for UEMOA to shut down shop" given that for the past five years, ECOWAS' headache have all included UEMOA countries (Niger in 2008; Cote d'Ivoire in 2011; Mali in 2012; Guinea-Bissau also in 2012; and finally, Burkina Faso in 2014). Diallo believes Liberia and Sierra Leone (anglophone countries) were perhaps the most brutal. However, what can be said is that the crises experienced by UEMOA countries are perhaps a reflection of weak democratic institutions, especially that of electoral commissions. He calls for more of a harmonisation of West Africa's electoral commissions.

• Araba Arhin, former West Africa Commission on Drugs official

Mrs.Arhin proffers the genesis of the West Africa Commission on Drugs, describing it as "a baby of Kofi Annan Foundation and of Mr. Kofi Annan." The project visited countries like Senegal; Nigeria; Guinea-Bissau. A report was prepared, with recommendations made, and advocacy to be made using a report that was prepared. Drugs are affecting our society in ways in which we cannot imagine.

Emmanuel wondered how far WACID's work has been able to complement the efforts of ECOWAS' Intergovernmental Action Group against Money-Laundering (GIABA) and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Arhin explains that they were not only working independently, but working alongside GIABA and other related agencies. The latest report by WACID believes West Africa is not prepared for legalisation of drug policy, but more of a degree of decriminalization to allow more of the big fish to be caught.

• Dominick Andoh, Head of Aviation desk, Business & Financial Times Paper

In this aviation update, Andoh confirms that regional airlines operating from Kotoka have begun to fly again to Ougadougou. These include ASKY; Air Burkina; Air Cote d;Ivoire. 

On the domestic airline front, it is now possible for Kumasi airport to operate flights at night, which will serve as an important economic boon for the airline industry there. It will help them make more revenue, and enable people move more freely in the evening. It is hoped that this will help airlines break even as more revenue is accrued it.

We also learn that works are ongoing for the Tamale airport, which has plans to become an international airport. 

• Kobby Blay, Ebola Watch 

In this latest update, we learn there is some good news, especially with decline of cases in Sierra Leone. Countries yet to be affected by Ebola include Burkina Faso; Benin; Ghana; Togo.

Kobby will be going to Liberia's Budumburum camp to help spread the message on understanding Ebola. The Ebola Watch team will also be in Cape Coast.


ENDs

FEATURE: ECOWAS Finally sets up Ebola Awareness Page

by Emmanuel.K.Bensah Jr, Head of Research & Communications Unit, Africa in Focus Show

Barely a month after ECOWAS recorded its first fatality at the ECOWAS Lagos Office to Ebola, the regional institution has finally established a website to help respond to staff concerns about the Ebola virus. Dubbed "ECOWAS Health Awareness", the site is in the three official languages of ECOWAS--English; French; and Portuguese--and uses a combination of cartoons and simple language to explain all one needs to know about Ebola.

Under the "All you need to know" tab, there are sections on recognising the virus; preventing it; transmission; and treatment.

On clicking the FAQ tab, one is directed to pertinent questions on Ebola for "ECOWAS"; the "WHO" and the "UN". There is regrettably no information under the UN section, but there are a detailled list of questions under the "ECOWAS" and "WHO" tabs.

Perhaps the most useful part of the site is the "Updates" tab, which is populated by some statistics of deaths recorded since 27 July up to 8 August, 2014. Although the French and Portuguese site have little information, the English site seems to be more up-to-date.

This website comes at a time when many ECOWAS Community citizens have been left wondering what the regional response to the crisis is. Reports that the AU and WHO are actively collaborating to help countries affected by Ebola have left many sceptical as to whether there is actually any ECOWAS Ebola Fund as trumpeted by ECOWAS at the 45th Ordinary Session that was held here in Accra in July.

The West African Health Organisation(WAHO), the regional counterpart to the World Health Organisation, has been found wanting in its response to the crisis. It is only a small news digest about an upcoming emergency meeting in Accra on 28 August that offers some assurance.

According to the WAHO website, the "Extraordinary Meeting of the Assembly of Health Ministers will be devoted to reviewing Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the region". The meeting will seek to provide "an update on the implementation of recommendations from the last WHO-sponsored Accra Meeting and the Summit convened by the Heads of State of the Mano River Union."

More than 1,000 people lost their lives to the deadly virus in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria in recent months.

Access the ECOWAS Ebola Awareness site here: http://www.awareness.ecowas.int/

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AFRICA IN FOCUS >> Coming up on 19 August, 2014: "Africa’s Aviation Sector: Challenges; Prospects; and the Future"

The State of the Africa’s Aviation Sector: Challenges; Prospects; and the Future

In talking about the aviation sector, it is possible to speculate that one has touched on a topic so esoteric and specialised that it requires the knowledge and passion of an expert to explain them. Truth be told, the more one reads, the more one realises that it is more of the same of the quintessential turf wars that populate the literature of the fight between the West and the Global South, especially Africa, for its own policy space.

Let's make no bones about this: we need neither a Western country; a UN agency; NEPAD; nor the AU to tell us about the critical importance of the aviation sector to Africa's development. The principal reason why any international body like the AU, NEPAD, or the UN might want to remind us is simply so Africans can take the bull by the horns and create their destiny about the “open skies” policy the Yamoussoukro Decision seeks to advocate.

There are no easy solutions to the challenge of facilitating an open-skies policy for Africa. This does not mean that we should not try to do something about it. There already exists the YD, which has been in operation since 2002. Other institutions, such as AFCAC, and Banjul Accord Group(linking 7 ECOWAS countries) exist to help resolve the challenge. Africa is fortunate to have organisations, such as AFRAA, that have transformed themselves into virtual advocacy organisations for the African airline industry. There is, however, more that can be done.

It is for this reason that we are using the 14^th edition of “Africa in Focus” to interrogate the aviation sector.

There are five major reasons why it is important to look at the sector. First are the perennially-expensive airline tickets. Second is the state of the YD. What are some of the experiences that those in the studio can attest to around its implementation? Third, what are some of the solutions towards resolving the expensive aviation fuel? Is the solution Joint-Fuel purchases? Fourth, how can consumers ever be shielded from the very-high taxes; charges; and fees on airline tickets so that consumers can finally pay for affordable tickets? Finally, in the light of the Ebola scare, how are airlines bracing themselves to respond to what seems like a long-term challenge for the aviation industry?

Guiding Questions to be answered:

·        What concrete measures are airlines taking to help bring down tickets?

·        How satisfied are the airlines operating here that the Yamassoukro Declaration is being implemented?

·        What is the state of play about aviation fuel? Are some airlines getting it cheaper elsewhere?

·        Taxes, Charges and Fees are the highest in West Africa. Is it a case of West African governments being insensitive to the necessity of airlines in contributing to Africa’s development?

·        With the onset of Ebola, how are airlines bracing themselves to respond to the crisis? What assurances are they giving their passengers?

·        What can our governments do better to help the aviation sector, beyond implementing the YD?

Guests in the studio:

Ø  William Afadzinu, Marketing Manager, ASKY Airlines

Ø  Anthony Sarfo, Marketing Manager--West & North Africa, Kenya Airways

Ø  Adewale Adeniran, Sales Manager, Arik Air

Tune in at 13h10 GMT (1:00pm Ghana Time). We’re also streaming live  www.radioxyzonline.com.

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