Day: October 21, 2023

Nairobi – Angola’s President João Lourenço and his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto on Saturday will address issues of bilateral interest, with emphasis on strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries.

The talks are taking place as part of the visit of the Angolan Head of State, since Thursday, to Kenya, at the invitation of William Ruto.

At the table will be the discussion, for signature, of 13 legal instruments submitted by the Bilateral Joint Commission, to strengthen cooperation in the fields of health, agriculture, environment, mineral resources, oil and gas, tourism, telecommunications, information and communication technologies, transport and maritime cooperation, trade and industry, youth, among others.

There is also a Memorandum of Understanding between the Venâncio de Moura Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Angola and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kenya.

Cooperation between the two countries will also be supported by the Memorandum of Understanding between the National School of Administration and Public Policy (ENAPP) and the Kenya Government School in the Field of Capacity Development in the Public Service.

Before leaving Nairobi, on Saturday, João Lourenço will go to the Mausoleum of Jomo Kenyatta, the first President of Kenya, to pay tribute to the late statesman.

The friendly relationship between Angola and Kenya dates back to the years of the struggle for independence, when the then President of the Republic of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta, brought together at the same table, in 1975, the leaders of Angola’s liberation movements, to align a common vision about their liberation.

But cooperation, in the broadest sense of the word, gained momentum in 2010, when Kenya Airways began flying to Luanda, under an agreement in the air transport sector signed in 2011.

Meanwhile, in 2014, Angola and Kenya signed four agreements that reinforced bilateral cooperation, namely the General Agreement on Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation; the Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Angola and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya; the Agreement on the Creation of the Bilateral Commission; the Agreement for the Operation of Air Services between and beyond the respective territories, in the field of transport

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Nairobi – The President of Kenya, William Ruto, assured this Saturday, in Nairobi, his country’s support for Angola’s candidacy for the presidency of the African Union (AU), in 2025.

The Kenyan President, who was speaking to the press at the end of a meeting with his Angolan counterpart, considered Angola worthy of presiding over the AU, as President João Lourenço has already demonstrated great statesmanship in his mediation efforts on the continent, especially between the DRC and Rwanda, as well as its leadership in the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (CIRGL).

He congratulated the President of the Republic for his leadership in the mediation effort between these two countries and for believing in his commitment that the situation must be resolved through engagement in consultations and dialogue. On the other hand, he considered that the state visit of the Angolan Head of State marks a turning point in cordial relations between the two countries.

After witnessing the signing of 11 cooperation agreements, alongside João Lourenço, he reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to continuing to develop bilateral relations, mainly in matters of trade, agriculture, tourism, transport and communications. He said that there is a need for greater interaction between the two peoples, therefore, the resumption of air connections between Luanda and Nairobi will be accelerated in order to also facilitate businesspeople from both

countries and increase commercial exchanges.

He encouraged this increase, which in the last four years has gone from 60 million to 350 million dollars and could grow into billions.

Angola and Kenya, on the last day of the Angolan president’s visit, signed eleven cooperation instruments that will form the basis for the growth of business relations.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Appolonia City Ladies has marked the International Day of the Girl Child with the Appolonia Kpone-Katamanso District Assembly Junior High School to empower the final-year female pupils to aspire to greater heights.

The Appolonia City Ladies also used the occasion to encourage the young women to strive for success.

Ms Claudia Otoo, Head of City Management, who led the team, which also included members of the sales and marketing departments, shared their personal stories with the girls, highlighting the struggles and obstacles they faced on their journeys to success.

They emphasized the importance of perseverance, determination, and the pursuit of education as a means to overcome life challenges.

The team presented gifts, which included sanitary pads, math sets, water, and drinks, to support the girls’ education and well-being.

Ms Otoo emphasized that on December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child, to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.

She explained that International Day of the Girl Child focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.

Ms. Otoo noted that adolescent girls have the right to a safe, educated, and healthy life, not only during these critical formative years but also as they mature into women.

‘If effectively supported during the adolescent years, girls have the potential to change the world-both as the empowered girls of today and as tomorrow’s workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads, and political leaders,’ she noted.

She said that as an investment company, Appolonia City understands that an investment in adolescent girls will empower them to uphold their rights today and promise a more equitable and prosperous future.

Ms. Otoo encouraged the girls that globally, ladies are breaking boundaries and barriers posed by stereotypes and exclusion, including those directed at children with disabilities and those living in marginalized communities, and encouraged the girls to stay focused.

Miss Isabella Bedu, the girls’ prefect at Appolonia Junior High School, expressed gratitude on behalf of her fellow girls to the Appolonia City Ladies for observing the 2023 International Day of the Girl Child with them.

‘We thank Appolonia City for their thoughtful gesture and promise to make the entire city proud. It is inspiring to see what we can become when we work hard and focus on our books.

‘We pledge that we, as a team, will strive to ensure that the highest-performing student in next year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination will be a girl from Appolonia Junior High School,’ she said.

Appolonia City is a partnership with Rendeavous, Africa’s largest new city builder, and the chiefs and people of the Appolonia stool.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Madam Caroline Gifty Tsikata, a 39-year-old mother of two, has been arrested by the Police at Akatsi for allegedly defrauding some members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

This was after Mr Samuel K Adabla, the Volta Regional Chairman of the United Cadres Front (UCF), a group affiliated to the NDC, issued an alert on the alleged impersonation and fraudulent acts of the suspect.

Mr Adabla, in his statement, indicated that the suspect was posing herself to be the Regional Coordinator for the Young Cadres Front (YCF) of the UCF, Volta.

The statement said: ‘UCF Volta wishes to state explicitly that, Madam Caroline Gifty Tsikata who is parading herself as such is not the Regional Coordinator for the Young Cadres Front and should therefore be treated as an imposter.’

He further stated that UCF Volta has not assigned the suspect to act on its behalf in any capacity to solicit funds or sell out any forms to give financial assistance to anyone.

The suspect was arrested on Wednesday, by some Constituency Executives of NDC in Akatsi South upon tip-off.

The suspect, said to be living in Tema Community 25, during interrogation by the Police, admitted to having been moving within the various constituencies in Volta, including Akatsi South, Kpando, Keta, South Tongu, Ho and others for her alleged financial deal.

She also confessed to having collected an undisclosed amount of cash from unsuspecting NDC members with the aim of providing them with all forms of financial assistance.

Some victims, including Mr John Atigode, a teacher at Akatsi, and Mr Zigah Kofi Felix, told the GNA the suspect took GHC2400 and GHC1600 respectively from them.

Further checks by the GNA revealed over a hundred NDC members within Akatsi South, have been listed in the suspect’s record book.

The development also raised concerns from other party members from other constituencies who were victims to the alleged move.

The Police at Akatsi have since confirmed the arrest to the Ghana News Agency.

‘She was arraigned and rearrested to aid in further investigations,’ a Police source said.

The leadership of UCF in Volta, is, therefore, appealing to all members to report any issue related to the act, to the Police.

Source: Ghana News Agency