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Osinbajo in Accra to represent Buhari at ECOWAS summit

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The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at an Extraordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government on Sunday in Accra, Ghana on the political situation in the Republics of Guinea and Mali.

Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, disclosed this in a statement titled, ‘VP Osinbajo to represent Nigeria at 3rd ECOWAS extraordinary summit in Accra on political situation in Guinea, Mali.’

Sunday’s Extraordinary summit, which will be the third on the same agenda this year, will assess previous resolutions and further review the political situation in the Republics of Guinea and Mali.

Osinbajo had participated at the second ECOWAS Extraordinary Summit on the political situation in Guinea and Mali held on September 16, in Accra, Ghana. Before that, he also attended a virtual ECOWAS Extraordinary Summit held on September 8, on the same agenda.

ECOWAS leaders in the communique issued at the end of the last special summit in Accra had, amongst other resolutions, decided to freeze the financial assets of members of the military junta, place a travel ban on them, while also demanding that the junta return Guinea to constitutional rule within six months.

Nigeria’s position on the situation in Guinea had been restated by Osinbajo at the summit, urging for the unconditional release of President Alpha Condé and calling for more pressure to be put on the country’s military leaders to return the nation to democratic rule.

Equally, the Vice President had commended the efforts of stakeholders in Mali and re-emphasized the need to strictly respect and follow the electoral timetable for transition to civil rule.

Credit: punchng.com

Pre-mix fuel distribution goes digital

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Mavis Hawa Koomson, Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development

The supply and distribution of premix fuel will soon be digitised to stop diversion and hoarding, the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mavis Hawa Koomson has disclosed at the inauguration of the new batch of members of the National Premix Committee in Accra.

She said the Ministry had initiated the plans to digitise the supply of premix fuel.

Fishers in the country will soon use canoe identification cards before purchasing premix fuel if the automation process is complete.

“The sale of premix fuel would be fully automated,” she emphasised

She noted that this would not only stop diversion of the product, but would also ensure that few individuals do not short-change the State and fishers in the supply and distribution chain.

Ms Koomson, therefore, urged the new Committee Members to pay attention to the selection and composition of the Landing Beach Committees so that people with good morals would be selected at the local level to ensure integrity in the sale of the product.

The National Premix Fuel Committee was established in accordance with LI 2233 of the National Premix Fuel Committee Regulations, 2016, with the mandate to facilitate the procurement and distribution of premix fuel to fishing communities in the country.

Between January 2017 and August 2021 407,740,500 litres of premix were distributed to Landing Beach Committees (LBCs) across the country.

KUMACA-USA constructs 12-seater lavatory facility for alma mater

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Authorities inspecting the facility after comissioning of the project.
Students of KUMACA join dignitries to inspect the newly-commissioned lavatory project

The United State of America (USA) branch of Akunini, the Old Students’ Association of Kumasi Academy (KUMACA) has built and handed over a 12-seater ultra-modern lavatory facility for their Alma Mater. The new facility, which will cater for both boys and girls, has ceramic hand wash basins.

At a handing over ceremony in Kumasi recently, Mr. Kwame Boadu, the Communication Director of KUMACA-USA, noted that the project was initiated and completed to solve sanitation challenges facing the school and tasked the students to take good care of it.

The national president of Akunini, Dr. Kwabena Osiakwan Dapaah, said the school has never in its 64 years of existence benefited from such a huge project and commended Akunini, USA for the gesture.

He thanked Dr.Kwame Bawauh Edusei, class of 1974, an entrepreneur, medical officer, business man and a diplomat for his major contribution for the completion of the project.

The newly-commissioned lavatory facility built by KUMACA USA

Mr. Samuel Gato, the headmaster of the school, on his part, said the project is a curtain raiser for a massive science laboratory which would be commissioned soon.

According to him, the lavatory would surely help to reduce the excuse normally given by students to go back to the dormitory to attend to nature’s call, whilst classes are ongoing.

On behalf of the board of governors, school management, staff and students, he thanked the old students, especially the USA branch of Akunini, for providing the facility.

Some of the Akunini members who were in attendance at the function were; Mr. Kwame Boafo, Daniel Nimo, Osei Kufour and CharlesKraBoadu.

No room in Jerusalem for Consulate for Palestinians …Israel tells US

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Israel Foreign Minister Yair Lapid

Sitting next to the Israeli Foreign Minister in Washington this October, Secretary of State Antony Blinken was clear: The Americans want to re-open their consulate in Jerusalem to serve Palestinians.

“We’ll be moving forward with the process of opening a consulate as part of deepening of those ties with the Palestinians,” Blinken said at the State Department.

Less than a month later, Israel’s political leadership was also clear: it has no plans to approve such a consulate.

Asked by CNN at a press conference Saturday evening about US intentions, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said his government had presented its opinion to the Americans “clearly and openly.”

“There is no room for another American consulate in Jerusalem. We always present our position quietly without drama and we expect it to be understood. Jerusalem is the capital of one state and that’s the state of Israel,” Bennett said, standing alongside Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman.

Credit: cnn.com

US offers $5m reward for information on Mexican drug traffickers

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$5m reward for drug traffickers

The United States State Department has announced rewards of up to $5m each for information that will help authorities capture and convict four Mexican drug cartel leaders, including the brother of infamous trafficker Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.

Along with Aureliano Guzman-Loera, US authorities are also upping their pursuit of brothers Ruperto Salgueiro-Nevarez, Jose Salgueiro-Nevarez and Heriberto Salgueiro-Nevarez.

The quartet has been “charged in US indictments for violation of US drug laws, to include international conspiracies to distribute marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement on Friday.

The highly dangerous synthetic opioid fentanyl is “responsible for more than 63 percent of the 96,779 drug overdose deaths in the United States between March 2020 and 2021,” Price added.

The four men operate under the umbrella of the federation of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of Mexico’s most notorious drug trafficking groups, which El Chapo led until his most recent capture and imprisonment in 2016.

Guzman was extradited to the US a year later and has since been sentenced to life in prison.

Credit: aljazeera.com

Libya suspends foreign minister, bars her from travelling

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Libya foreign minister Najla El-Mangoush

Libya’s presidential council says it has suspended Foreign Minister Najla El-Mangoush for 14 days and banned her from travelling, pending an inquiry.

It accused her of not co-ordinating on foreign policy, but the transitional government rejected the decision, saying she would carry on as normal.

The political infighting follows comments she made in a BBC interview about the Lockerbie bombing in 1988.

Libya admitted responsibility for the bombing in 2003.

Controversy ignited here after the minister spoke to the BBC about the possible extradition of a new Libyan suspect wanted by the US over the bombing.

The downing of the plane – in which 270 people were killed – remains a sensitive subject here, and a painful one in the US and Britain.

Najla El-Mangoush told us that the Libyan government was very open to collaborating with the US on the question of extradition, and said the matter was progressing.

“We understand the pain and sadness of the victims and the families,” she said.

The move to suspend – and ground – the top diplomat comes ahead of a major international conference on Libya in Paris next Friday.

It also comes as Libya is moving uncertainly towards nationwide elections, due in late December.

Credit: bbc.com

Police investigate crowd surge at Texas festival

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Police investigate crowd surge

Police in Houston, Texas, have opened a criminal investigation into the deaths at the Astroworld festival on Friday.

At least eight people died and scores of people were hurt after a crowd surge on the opening night of the music event in Houston, Texas.

The victims were aged between 14 and 27. The identities of some of them are expected to be released on Sunday

Police are also investigating reports that somebody in the audience had been injecting people with drugs.

The incident began around 21:15 on Friday (02:15 GMT Saturday) when panic broke out as the crowd began to press towards the front of the stage during the rapper Travis Scott’s headline set.

As the crush began causing injuries to people, panic grew and the casualties quickly overwhelmed the on-site first aiders, officials said. Some 300 people were treated for injuries such as cuts and bruises.

The police investigation into the tragedy will involve the homicide and narcotics divisions, and will review video from the scene to explore the causes of the surge and what had prevented people from being able to escape.

Several concert goers had to be revived with the anti-drug overdose medicine, including a security officer who police said appeared to have an injection mark.

“We do have a report of a security officer… that he was reaching over to restrain or grab a citizen and he felt a prick in his neck,” Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said.

“When he was examined he went unconscious,” he added. “He was revived and the medical staff did notice a prick that was similar to a prick that you would get if somebody is trying to inject.”

Credit: bbc.com

Kintampo North MCE thanks chiefs

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Mr. Isaac Baffoe Ameyaw(standing) addressing the chiefs
The chiefs at the palace

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Kintampo North in the Bono East Region, Mr. Isaac Baffoe Ameyaw, has paid a courtesy call on the chiefs and elders of the area.

The MCE also used the opportunity to tour some communities in the area.

His first point of call was a visit to some sub-chiefs of Kintampo to thank them for the endless prayer and support given him throughout his confirmation process.

He also appealed to the chiefs to collaborate with him by sharing ideas on how they could, together, develop Kintampo Municipality.

He promised to work tirelessly to help solve some pressing challenges in the area, touching on roads, healthcare, and education among others, as areas he would work on.

On their part, the chiefs also pledged their support to the MCE to be able to deliver on his mandate. They charged him to do more to mitigate the numerous challenges that the municipality was currently facing.

Sunyani MCE hands over motorbikes to assembly members

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The motorbikes

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Sunyani in the Bono Region, Mr. Ansu Kumi, has presented 49 motorbikes to all assembly members in the Sunyani Municipality to facilitate movements in their various electoral areas.

It is the second time assembly members in the area have taken delivery of motorbikes from the government since the Akufo-Addo-led administration took over from the erstwhile Mahama administration.

Presenting the motorcycles, Mr Ansu Kumi called on the members to use them judiciously to actualise the intent for which they were provided.

He reminded the members of the need to ensure punctuality at the assembly at all times to represent their respective communities.

As part of arrangements, the assembly would shoulder all the necessary documentation, including licensing, to avoid problems.

Mali is sinking in to crisis

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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo addressing representatives of members countries at the ECOWAS Summit in Accra.

The security situation in Mali has deteriorated significantly and the country is sinking into crisis, the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) has been told.

The information was contained in a memorandum on the socio-political situation in Mali and Guinea, a document from the ECOWAS Commission sighted by The Chronicle, dated November 7, 2021.

Part A of the memorandum provides an overview of the recent socio-political developments in the Republic of Mali, and the other part is on Guinea.

The report, which was shared with the Heads of State only, is the report on the visit of the ECOWAS delegation to Mali, led by the Chairperson, President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

SECURITY SITUATION

The memorandum quoting the Malian authorities said “the security situation has deteriorated significantly despite the considerable efforts of the government and all its partners.”

The document added that insecurity underpinned by terrorism, inter-community conflicts and the proliferation of militias has spread from the north and centre to the south and west of the country.

As a result of the deterioration of the security situation in Mali, thousands of Malians are forced to abandon their hometowns to take refuge in neighbouring countries.

Furthermore, the document said the banking, insurance, and oil situations are worrisome, as stakeholders have gone on strike, thus adversely affecting the country’s economic activities.

The report to the Authority on the socio-political situation in Mali, concluded that based on the insecurity and political uncertainty, the crisis may spread throughout the region.

The report said there is no timetable for the election as of the end of October 2021, as previously communicated.

Thus, “the Community maintain a firm stance, particularly through the effective implementation of targeted sanctions, and consider other measures to ensure compliance with the commitments made.”

COMMUNIQUE ON MALI

After the closed-door session, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Kassie Brou, addressed the media in which he mentioned that the Authority needed the support of the United Nations for the transitional government to respect its commitment.

He said the Authority was not happy with the expulsion of the ECOWAS Resident Representative to Mali on October 25, 2021.

The Authority said the crime of the Resident Representative was the desire to ensure that the firm decision of ECOWAS was complied with.

The Communique, as read by the President of the Commission, urged neighbouring countries to intensify their security, considering the situation in Mali.

Mr. Brou said the Authority has placed sanctions on Mali and its junta cannot travel with their financial assets also confiscated.

GUINEA’S SITUATION

According to the report presented to the Authority on the socio-political situation in Guinea, the Transition Authorities in Guinea adopted a transition charter and set out four organs.

These are; the National Committee for Reconciliation and Development (CNRD), the President of the Transition, the Transition Government, and the National Council of the Transition (CNT).

Also, a civilian prime minister was appointed on October 6, 2021, adding that a 25-member government is gradually being put in place.

The CNT will also be set up as soon as possible and would be composed of 81 members put forward by different segments of the population.

TRANSITION DURATION

The Authority was told in the report that the duration of the transition remains a major outstanding issue, stressing that during a recent mission to Conakry, the President of the Commission reminded the Authorities of the need to release former President Alpha Conde.

“In conclusion, the political transition is gradually taking shape. The main outstanding issues are the release of former President Alpha Conde and the election timetable,” the report stated.

COMMUNIQUE ON GUINEA

Reading the communiqué after the closed-door session, the President of the Commission told the press that the Authority insisted on the release of the former President of the country without condition.The travel ban and the other sanctions are still in force.

Again, a special ECOWAS envoy, to be led by Ibn Chambas, would go to Guinea to assess the situation on the ground.

SOLIDARITY

At the opening session of yesterday’s extra-ordinary summit, the Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority, President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on behalf of ECOWAS solidarised with Niger and Sierra Leone.

The two countries, which are member states, have been tragically hit by separate disasters in the last couple of days, leading to fatalities.

“We express our deep regrets and condolences for these sad incidents, and I would like you to observe a minute’s silence in memory of the victims and the population,” he said.

ATTENDANCE

The President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo; President of Cote Dvoire, Alassane Ouattara; President of Guinea Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló; President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum; President of Senegal, Macky Sall; Vice President of Benin, Chabi Talata; Vice president of Nigeria, Oluyemi Osinbajo; Prime minister of Burkina Faso, Christophe Marie Joseph Dabiré; Minister of Trade,  Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, Seedy Keita; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Togo, Robert Dussey and Ambassador of Cape Verde to Nigeria, Belarmino Monteiro Silva attended the summit.

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