Press Release: Newly-Established Ghana-Namibia Friendship Association Elects Executives

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PRESS RELEASE

ACCRA, Ghana (AIF Show-28 Nov. 2017) A Ghana-Namibia Friendship Association plenary session has taken place in Accra, with executives nominated for the position of Chairperson; Vice Chairperson; Treasurer; and Secretary.

Former Ghana Ambassador to Namibia, Haruna Atta, was elected overwhelmingly by the participants.

The Secretary, Roy Aboku, is a businessman who has travelled extensively to Namibia. In a brief chat on the sidelines of the meeting, he spoke to “Africa in Focus”, recalling the days when Ghanaians had to travel to Abuja for a visa. He is happy to note the progress that has been made with Namibia issuing a visa to visitors in just 72 hours.

This was confirmed by Deputy High Commissioner, Gabriel Shaanikaa, who explained that the three days is the maximum time for a visa, and that the requirements are far from cumbersome. He encourages all Ghanaians to take advantage of this, especially now that Air Namibia will be staging a comeback in the first quarter of 2018.

Other members of the Executive include a businessman, and Nana Ofei-Nkansah, a traditional leader.

ENDs

Africa in Focus Show seeks to demystify, unpack, and explain developments within institutions of ECOWAS; the African Union; East Africa; & South-South cooperation.First airborne in 2014, and with 5 Seasons under its belt, the Show is known as a reference for quality analysis on Africa.

@ekbensah | africainfocusshow.blogspot.com | +233.268.687.653 /+233.243.111.789

TOP 10 POPULAR POSTS FROM "AFRICA IN FOCUS SHOW" WEBSITE

Dear friends,

I believe this email finds you well.

Allow me to wish you and yours a peaceful new month.

May all your endeavours come to pass!

On behalf of the AIF Research & Communications Unit, I am very happy to present you the top 10 posts from the AIF website on www.africainfocusradioshow.org.

The first most-popular download is that of Ep.39, in which we had the priviledge of an exclusive interview with Namibia's High Commissioner to Ghana H.E. Charles Josob who spoke to us about his country's achievements on renewable energy.

Still with Namibia, just in case it escaped your attention, Namibia will host the Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Centre for the SADC countries.

We at AIF are barely surprised about this feat. Kudos, Namibia! This means Cape Verde joins Namibia to host the ECOWAS & SADC Centres respectively, with ECOWAS having pioneered this Centre of Excellence in 2010.

Still on ECOWAS, the second highest podcast in the top 10 is that of Ep.43, which I used to interview former ECOWAS official Frank Ofei about Ecowas' fortieth anniversary. We also examined the failure of this country to capitalise on awareness-raising of Ecowas' landmark celebration.

The interview was also especially noteworthy as it took place in the same week President John Mahama of Ghana passed the baton of Chairperson of ECOWAS to Macky Sall of Senegal at an ECOWAS Summit.

At the top spot on the website since September 2014, is AIF Research & Communications Unit's first-ever High-Level Forum on Regional Development in West Africa, which was supported by WACSI.

That it has remained number 1 since 2014 suggests an interest in a Forum of this kind taking place again.

Kindly find below the top 10 posts for your enjoyment!

We welcome feedback!

Kind regards,
Emmanuel

1. First-ever High-Level Public Forum on Regional Development in West Africa -- 4-5 September, EASTGATE HOTEL, Accra
High-Level Public Forum on Regional Development in West Africa Introduction and Objectives The Research & Communications Unit o...
http://africainfocusonradioxyz.blogspot.com/2014/09/first-ever-high-level-public-forum-on.html?m=0

2. At Africa in Focus' First-ever Public Forum, Former ECOWAS Official Frank Ofei Speaks about Ecowas Common Currency
http://africainfocusonradioxyz.blogspot.com/2014/09/at-africa-in-focus-first-ever-public.html?m=0

3. PODCAST!>>Ep.39: Impact of Ghana's Power Crisis(1): Why Renewable Energy?
EPISODE #39 Research & Co-ordination: E.K.Bensah Jr Executive Producer: E.K.Bensah Jr Technical  Producer: D.J. Stagger "Dear f...
http://africainfocusonradioxyz.blogspot.com/2015/04/podcastep39-impact-of-ghanas-power.html?m=0

4. Five-day Regional Workshop for Parliamentary Staff of Ghana; Gambia; Nigeria; & ECOWAS Opens in Accra
Gilbert Atta-Boakye, Facilitator Accra, Ghana – In an attempt to redefine work ethics across the sub-region, a five-day workshop to en...
http://africainfocusonradioxyz.blogspot.com/2015/07/five-day-regional-workshop-for.html?m=0

5. COMING UP!>>Episode #48: Mixed Bag: Updates on Financing for Development; Freedom of Information
Episode #48: Mixed Bag: Updates on Financing for Development (#Ffd3); Freedom of Information We want to use ep.48 to look at two...
http://africainfocusonradioxyz.blogspot.com/2015/07/coming-upepisode-48-mixed-bag-updates.html?m=0

6. COMING UP!>>Ep.39: Impact of Ghana's Power Crisis(1): Why Renewable Energy?
Episode #39:   Impact of Power Crisis (1): Why Renewable Energy, and Options for Financing? That we have a power crisis i...
http://africainfocusonradioxyz.blogspot.com/2015/04/coming-upep38-impact-of-power-crisis1.html?m=0

7. AFRICA IN FOCUS >> Coming up on 9 September, 2014: Afri-Tourism!
Since 29 July, AIF has navigated the waters of a topic that merits more discussion on the Ghanaian media landscape – that of Tourism. We wi...
http://africainfocusonradioxyz.blogspot.com/2014/09/africa-in-focus-coming-up-on-9.html?m=0

8. COMING UP!!>>Ep.49: Mixed Bag#2: Outcome of Third Financing for Development Conference; AU Youth Impact Africa Awards
Episode #49: Mixed Bag#2: Outcome of Third Financing for Development Conference; AU Youth Impact Africa Awards We want to use ep....
http://africainfocusonradioxyz.blogspot.com/2015/07/coming-upep49-mixed-bag2-outcome-of.html?m=0

9. COMING UP!>>Ep.34: Towards a more Equitable Gender Participation in Peace & Security with UNSCR1325
34th Edition: Towards a more Equitable Gender Participation in Peace & Security with UNSCR1325 This year, the AU is payin...
http://africainfocusonradioxyz.blogspot.com/2015/03/coming-upep34-towards-more-equitable.html?m=0

10. PODCAST:>>Ep.43: SPECIAL: Talking Points around #ECOWAS@40(4): One-on-one with former ECOWAS Official Frank Ofei
http://africainfocusonradioxyz.blogspot.com/2015/07/podcastep43-special-talking-points.html?m=0

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"explaining; unpacking; demystifying ECOWAS; AU; South-South policies!": Africa in Focus Show on Radio XYZ93.1FM

#PODCAST>>Episode 40: EXCLUSIVE Interview with Namibian Ambassador to Ghana

EPISODE #40
Research & Co-ordination: E.K.Bensah Jr
Executive Producer: E.K.Bensah Jr
Technical  Producer: D.J. Stagger

"Dear friends,

H.E.Charles Josob

We dedicated the fortieth edition of the Africa in Focus Show to having an exclusive interview with the High Commissioner of Namibia H.E.Charles Josob, which country is celebrating 25 years of independence from South Africa. We talked about Namibia's tourism, aviation; its Pan-Africanist aspirations and relationships. It was revealed that one of the reasons for the slow-down/draw-down of Air Namibia was because of the visa regime! Ghanaians seeking to enter the southern African country had to make their way to Nigeria at extra cost before getting a visa. The Ambassador revealed it is now possible to obtain a visa right here in Accra for USD60.oo (almost GHS240).

Juana Akuamoah-Boateng, Assistant Producer

Also on the line was member of the CAADP Country Team Marjorie Abdin. In a brief interview, she gave us an insight into what had been happening around Africa's agriculture, which is also known as the Comprehensive Africa Agrifulture Development Programme(CAADP). Arguably one of the African Union's most successful programmes, few nationals know about it. The new vim injected into the CAADP Country Team's work, what with the establishment of an office, means that the team can go ahead and better-strategise their work on agriculture, and involve more stakeholders, including the media. Marjorie talked of bringing on board media houses like Radio XYZ93.1FM, through the "Africa in Focus" Show.

We took the opportunity to introduce to listeners my Assistant Producer Juana Akuamoah-Boateng, who will be helping out with aspects of the show's research production from hereon in.

Kindly find a link to download the podcast below, and enjoy "Africa in Focus" Show exclusive with the High Commissioner of Namibia to Ghana:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8y67sl3bley8jwd/AFRICA%20IN%20FOCUS%20%2021-4-15.mp3?dl=0

Just in case you missed it: "Africa in Focus Show" is the ONLY weekly magazine on Ghanaian radio explaining; unpacking; demystifying ECOWAS; AU; and South-South cooperation policies around Africa's integration. We are airborne every Tuesday from 13h00 to 15h00 GMT. All podcasts are available for download on www.africainfocusradioshow.org  Follow the conversation using #AfricainFocus

Kind regards,
Emmanuel


www.africainfocusradioshow.org
www.twitter.com/africainfocus14
www.twitter.com/eastafricarisng

COMING UP!>>Ep.40: SPECIAL: Interview with Namibian High Commissioner to Ghana H.E.Charles Josob

Episode #40:

SPECIAL: Interview with High Commissioner of Namibia to Ghana H.E.Charles Josob

In this special edition of the show, we will be speaking to the High Commissioner of Namibia to Ghana on a number of issues about that beautiful country, and what possibilities exist for South-South Cooperation.

Call us on the following numbers when we open the phone lines at 14h30 GMT

+233(0)289.000.931 // +233(0)289.931.000

Join us if you can at 1pm on 21 April, 2015.

Guiding questions

●     25 years of Namibia’s independence (#Namibia25)

●     Namibia’s best practices on tourism

●     State of play of “Air Namibia”

●     Intra-African trade, and Pan-African relationships, including vision at AU Peace & Security Council (call by Namibia Ambassador to Ethiopia & Sudan Anne Mutelo calling for self-determination of Sahrawi people); Southern African version of DFID?

●     Energy diplomacy, including export of power to ESKOM

Guests in the studio:

Ø  H.E. Charles Josob, High Commissioner of Namibia to Ghana ,Namibian High Commission, Accra

Ø  Juana Akuamoah-Boateng, Queens Impact Foundation/Assistant Producer, “Africa in Focus” Show

On the line

·    Abdulai Diallo, West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) @13h15 to respond to XenophobicSA and Violent Extremism

·         Marjorie Abdin, CAADP Country Team member@13h35 (“Africa in the News”) to brief on agric updates

COMING UP!>>Ep.39: Impact of Ghana's Power Crisis(1): Why Renewable Energy?

• Episode #39:  

Impact of Power Crisis (1): Why Renewable Energy, and Options for Financing?

That we have a power crisis in Ghana is obvious.

As to what ordinary citizens can do to find cost-effective solutions for it is less-so. It is for this reason we are dedicating the month of April to exploring the impacts of the power crisis on different sectors, healthy living, and an exploration of what solutions exist in renewable energies, such as solar energy.

According to a 2014 report by the Cape Verde-based EcowasCentre on Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency, the ECOWAS region is one of the most active for the promotion of renewable energy and energy-efficiency systems.

Apart from hydropower, the region is endowed with modern biomass; solar and wind energy. Ghana, like Nigeria, has biomass and hydropower. Conversely, Cape Verde has wind power. Ghana’s Eastern neighbor in Nigeria has the largest installed hydropower capacity (under 2000MW), while Ghana has 1,580MW in total with Akosombo; Kpong & Bui put together.

What’s clear from the ECREEE report is that, together, ECOWAS can have a more secure energy-security.  This is buttressed by the fact that, renewable energy systems are tools that can help propel economic development and create jobs. It comes as little surprise, therefore, that in May 2013, East African Community decided to set up a Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency agency based on the West African model in Cape Verde; and that the SADC as recently as November 2014 decided to setsame Institute up on ECOWAS’ model.

There is no gainsaying we need to be paying more attention to energy-security and renewable energies.

As we do, we need to also take into consideration what financing options exist for the procurement of renewables, such as solar energy? Are there any tax incentives already in place, as the PURC is calling for for SMEs? That news reports in March indicated that PURC was helping import solar panels for SMEs speaks to the acknowledgement of the impact of the power crisis on the Northern part of the country, where a number of SMEs are also populated.

If this is part of the PURC’s advocacy, will it scale it up to other regions and, most importantly, where will it get the money from to take what is arguably a decisive step on providing financing for a renewable energy source?

April is “Energy Security & Renewable Energy month” on the Africa in Focus Show, and we hope to hear from you as we have this very important discussion that will help offer some solutions to dynamising both the country and sub-region.

Call us on the following numbers when we open the phone lines at 14h30 GMT

+233(0)289.000.931 // +233(0)289.931.000

Join us if you can at 1pm on 14 April, 2015.

Guiding questions

• What are renewable energies, and why should Ghana be interested?
• West Africa is endowed with lots of solar energy. Why has government not been patronizing solar long before the power crisis?
• Will the power crisis help make procurement of solar energy easier?
• What are some of the impacts of power crisis on Ghanaians?
• What financing options are available for Ghanaians?
• Why does Ghana’s Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) believe SMEs need financing for solar energies?
• In the absence of specific and targeted financing for private sector organisations like the Ghana Association of Savings & Loans Company (GHASALC), can organisations like SNV assist in the financing of renewables with public-private-partnerships?

Guests in the studio:

Ø  Lovans Owusu-Takyi, Associate Advisor, Renewable Energy, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation

Ø  Bridget Menyeh, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation

Ø  Nana Yaa Jantuah, Director of External & Public Affairs, Public Utilities Regulatory Commission

On the line:

·         H.E. Charles Josob, High Commissioner of Namibia to Ghana @13h15

· Eunice Marfo, Executive Secretary, Ghana Association of Savings & Loans Company(GHASALC) @13h30

•  website of East African Centre for Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency
•  website of Namibia's Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Institute