Coming Up on 29th Edition: >> Talking points around Ecowas@40(1)

29^th Edition:  

Perspective Retrospective 2: Review of the Year 2014 – Health, & Tourism

We are reprising the issue of review in the 29^th edition of AIF.

We will, once again, be speaking to people who can help us offer a retrospective of the year on some of the biggest stories AIF show covered. Apart from aviation, the second biggest was Tourism, and Ebola. But we also want to pitch the issue of Ebola against that of AIDS, which may have gone under-reported because of the very-existential threat of Ebola.

If you will recall, health, especially that of Ebola, was a major talking point on AIF as Radio XYZ blazed the trail back in August 2014 on regular weekly discussions of Ebola under Africa in Focus.

Join us if you can at 1pm on 20 January, 2015.

Guests in the studio:

Ø  Penelope Agbai , Communications Officer, West Africa Aids Foundation

Ø  Kobby Blay, EbolaWatch

On the line:

·         Dr.Boakye, Director – Tourism Research Advocacy Centre(TRAC) @13h25 for our “Africa in the News” segment

·         Jesse Kawra, former Miss Ghana Tourism 2013 @13h40 for our “Africa in the News” segment

Coming Up on 28th Edition: >> Perspective Retrospective 1: Review of the Year 2014

28^th Edition:  

Perspective Retrospective 1: Review of the Year 2014

A New Year is upon us once again. Happy New Year!

We want to use the first edition of the Africa in Focus show for 2015 (also the 28^th edition) to review 2014.

We will therefore be speaking to people who can help us offer a retrospective of the year on some of the biggest stories AIF show covered on West Africa; tourism; and the aviation industry.

Health, especially that of Ebola, was a major talking point on AIF as Radio XYZ blazed the trail back in August 2014 on regular weekly discussions of Ebola under Africa in Focus.

Join us if you can at 1pm on 13 January, 2015 on Radio XYZ93.1fm an www.radioxyzonline.com 

Guests in the studio:

Ø  Cordelia Ukwuoma, West Africa Bureau Chief, Nigerian Television Authority

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

On the line:

·         Kofi Akpabli, award-winning Tourism writer @13h25 for our “Africa in the News” segment

·         Kobby Blay, EbolaWatch @14h30

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

Ebola Watch, October,28th,2014

Ebola Watch, October,28^th,2014

• USA: Surprisingly fear has gripped more citizens in the US than cases recorded.
• On October 23, the New York reported a case of Ebola in a medical aid worker who had returned to New York City from Guinea, where the medical aid worker had served with Doctors Without Borders. The diagnosis was confirmed by CDC on October 24.
• Texas: On October 10, a healthcare worker at Texas Presbyterian Hospital who provided care for the index patient tested positive for Ebola. The patient has since recovered and was discharged from the NIH Clinical Center on October 24
• On October 15, a second healthcare worker at Texas Presbyterian Hospital who provided care for the index patient tested positive for Ebola. The patient is receiving care at a hospital in Atlanta, Georgia.
• A nurse, who had previously been working with Doctors Without Borders, became the first public test case for a mandatory quarantine. She has won the case, though it is reported she tested negative on investigation. She is presently out of quarantine.
• CDC is implementing enhanced entry screening at five U.S. airports that receive over 94% of travelers from Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

• WHO convened a high-level emergency meeting on 23 October to look at the many complex policy issues that surround access to Ebola vaccines Ways to ensure the fair distribution and financing of these vaccines were discussed, as well as plans for the different phases of clinical trials to be performed concurrently rather than consecutively, partnerships for expediting clinical trials, and proposals for getting all development partners moving in tandem and at the same accelerated pace. Summary of report here

• Nigeria & Senegal: WHO officially declared Senegal and Nigeria free of Ebola virus transmission on October 17 and 20,respectively.
• Mali: On October 23, Mali reported its first confirmed case of Ebola in a child who had traveled there from Guinea. The child passed away on October 24.
• New cases continue to be reported from Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
• Liberia: It is unclear whether the outbreak is getting under control in Liberia or about to explode again. Need coverage more than ever
• Ghana: No Case YET. Healthcare workers received Trainer of Trainers program which ended last Friday. Operations of the UNMEER still ongoing as it operates from its hdqrs in Accra
• The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reported cases of Ebola. These cases are not related to the ongoing outbreak of Ebola in West Africa.
• TOTAL: Total Cases: 10141 Laboratory-Confirmed Cases: 5692 Total Deaths: 4922
• MESSAGE: The language over avoiding bats to avoid getting infected is should not be the central, what remains evidenced is having direct physical contacts with persons infected.

Report courtesy Ebola Watch Ghana via AIF Radio XYZ edition

Sources: CDC, WHO, New York Times, Reuters