Category: Uncategorized

The quality of media content in Ghana has been on a steady decline. This is due to a number of factors, including partisan ownership of media organisations, economic and financial manipulations by governments and the corporate sector to prevent or censor critical, fact-based reporting.

There is also the problem of low skills for analytical and comprehensive reporting among journalists. Increased dependence on social media and other digital sources for news amidst growing misinformation and disinformation further exacerbates the problem of limited access to factual information among media consumers.

To ensure that critical journalism remains vibrant and contributes to transparent and accountable governance, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) set up The Fourth Estate, a public interest and accountability journalism project to produce quality journalistic output that contribute to transparent and accountable governance in Ghana and restore public trust in the media.

About The Fourth Estate:

The Fourth Estate is an independent, not-for-profit, public interest and accountability journalism project by the MFWA. Reporters on its stable undertake thorough investigations that produce journalistic reports that hold the powerful to account, enhance public sector transparency, and amplify the voices and needs of the marginalized in society.

Purpose of the Call:

The call for consultancy is to find a suitable candidate to assess The Fourth Estate’s institutional capacity and staffing needs. The outcome of the exercise will provide guidance for The Fourth Estate’s work in spearheading the promotion and delivery of independent, public interest and accountability journalism. It will also help increase and improve journalistic output, especially, online and audio-visual content that promote transparent and accountable governance.

Scope of Work:

The work is consultancy work. The consultant will work together with The Fourth Estate to understand its work, goal, objectives, strengths and weaknesses as well as needs.

Requirements:

The ideal candidate should have knowledge and experience in the newsroom. He/she should have managed a media house for at least five years and is very conversant with current media marketing trends, particularly digital.

Submission Requirements:

Applicants should submit an updated CV to alerts@mfwa.org with the subject: Consultancy: Institutional capacity and staffing need assessment of The Fourth Estate. The CV of the applicant must show evidence of undertaking similar consultancy work.

Timeframe:

The call for consultancy service will last for a period of one month, ending on October 14, 2022.

Mode of Submission

All applications should kindly be sent to alerts@mfwa.org.

Source: Media Foundation Of West Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today, Wednesday, 14 September 2022, embark on working visits to the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK) to respectively build relations with South Africa’s third largest trade partner and to attend the State Funeral Service of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

President Ramaphosa departs today for Washington DC in the United States where he will honour an invitation by His Excellency President Joe Biden for engagement between the two leaders.

The leaders will meet at the White House on Friday, 16 September, to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest, including trade and investment, climate change, food security, energy, and peace and security.

President Ramaphosa will reaffirm the importance of the strategic and mutually beneficial relations between South Africa and the United States. The President will further emphasise the need for enhanced multilateralism and dialogue as the means through which the challenges facing humanity can be addressed. These include the urgent need to stimulate economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Washington DC, President Ramaphosa and his delegation will meet Congressional leaders and the veterans of the Civil Rights Movement who were instrumental in lobbying the American public against apartheid and who remain loyal to the cause of anti-racism in both the United States and South Africa.

The United States is a major export market for South Africa, a significant source of foreign direct investment (FDI), technology transfer, development assistance and tourism.

Trade and investment relations take place under the auspices of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which grants duty-free and quota-free access to the US market for value-added products. AGOA has created jobs in both South Africa and the US and is thus mutually beneficial.

The United States is South Africa’s third largest trading partner (after China and the European Union), with more than 600 United States companies operating in South Africa.

In 2021, the United States ranked as the second largest destination for South Africa’s exports globally.

The United States accounts for 17.4% of total South African outward FDI to the world, according to the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC).

The President’s visit to the United States provides a platform for strengthening bilateral relations with the United States though the engagement with President Biden.


State Funeral Service for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
 
On Saturday, 17 September 2022, President Ramaphosa will travel from Washington DC to London in the United Kingdom to attend events associated with the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
 
Following his arrival in London on Sunday, 18 September, the President will attend The King’s Reception – a reception hosted by His Majesty King Charles III in honour of Heads of State and Government and guests invited to attend the State Funeral Service – at Buckingham Palace.
 
On Monday, 19 September, the President will be among world leaders attending the State Funeral Service for Her Majesty The Queen at Westminster Abbey, London.
 
Immediately after the State Funeral Service, the UK Foreign Secretary, The Rt Hon James Cleverly MP, will host a reception for Heads of State and Government and other distinguished guests in the precincts of Westminster Abbey.

Source: The Presidency Republic of South Africa

Deputy President David Mabuza will tomorrow, 15 September 2022, respond to questions for oral reply in the National Assembly. 
 
Questions posed to the Deputy President by members of political parties represented in Parliament cover issues on Eskom and the transformation of the energy sector to achieve long-term energy security. 
 
A question on specific measures that are underway to curb illegal mining activities has also been posed to the Deputy President. 
 
To this end, Deputy President Mabuza will outline various measures that Government  through the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster has taken to deal with the economic crimes that are negatively affecting the mining environment and the economy.   
 
In addition, the Deputy President will brief Parliament on the outcomes of the recent  Communal Land Summit and how Government intends translating the Summit resolutions into practical actions that will develop and grow rural economies. 
 
Furthermore, as Chairperson of the Presidential Task Team on Military Veterans, the Deputy President will appraise Parliament on progress made up to so far in resolving the issues raised by the military veterans.

Source: The Presidency Republic of South Africa

NEW YORK— A 29-year-old Nigerian has been interdicted in the United States for defrauding the State of New York to the tune of US$30 million.

According to a release from the US Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania that Chidozie Collins Obasi, was charged by indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

He is also facing “six counts of mail fraud, and 16 counts of wire fraud, all stemming from a complicated, evolving fraud scheme that initially targeted Americans through a spam email campaign offering illegitimate “work from home” jobs.

The release added that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the accused “shifted to targeting US hospitals and medical systems by offering non-existent ventilators for sale beginning in March 2020, and finally shifted again in June 2020 to using stolen identity information of American citizens to apply for and obtain Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EID Loans”).

He is said to have coordinated the fraud from Nigeria, “with the help of co-conspirators in Canada and elsewhere. The defendant and his co-conspirators are alleged to have obtained more than $31,000,000 through this multi-faceted fraud scheme, with the overwhelming majority of that money – more than $30 million – coming from the State of New York for the intended purchase of ventilators.”

Obasi is presently a fugitive, and the United States is seeking to locate and arrest him. Anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts should contact their local FBI Office.

If caught and convicted, Obasi faces a maximum sentence of 621 years in prison, a five-year period of supervised release, and a $5,750,000 fine. Obasi also will be required to make full restitution of the more than $31,000,000 that he obtained by fraud.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

Concern Worldwide, Action Aid and For Equality brought together NGO and governmental partners on 1st July 2022 to discuss the impact of the current economic pressures in Malawi, focusing in particular on the impact of these challenges on women.

Panel discussions covered the implications and the required response by the social protection sector and agricultural sector. A policy paper was also produced which outlined the economic issues affecting Malawian women.

Disruption to global supply chains and rising food, fuel and fertiliser prices, resulting in part from the Ukraine Crisis, has caused global and national analysts to warn of significant economic challenges that will severely impact vulnerable populations. The growing economic pressure is a serious impediment to joint policy and programme efforts to combat poverty, food insecurity and gender inequality. Women and girls will be particularly impacted. The effects will be further compounded by any adverse weather events in the coming year.

The below video shows the cost of living impacts on small businesses in Malawi:

In view of this, Action Aid, Concern Worldwide, For Equality and the NGO Gender Coordination Network, held a collaborative Panel Discussion on “Mitigating the Gendered Impacts of the Rising Costs of Living in Malawi Resulting from Ukraine Crisis” to discuss the challenges in the Malawi context, and identify opportunities to mitigate their impact.

The session focused on Malawian social protection and agroecology sectors, developing a strong foundation for Malawi to build back better. Honourable Doctor Patricia Kaliati MP, Minister for Gender, Social Welfare and Community Development officially opened and resided as guest of honour at the event.

Source: ActionAid

CHAD

HEAVIEST RAINS IN 30 YEARS AFFECT 340,000 PEOPLE

Through August, torrential rainfall and floods, the heaviest in 30 years in Chad, have left parts of the capital N’Djamena submerged under water and forced thousands to flee their inundated houses. By the end of August, the unprecedented flooding affected over 340,000 people, which surpassed last year’s figures where through 2021, about 250,000 people were affected by floods there. In N’Djamena’s eighth district, families had recourse to wooden boats to cross streets that have been awash with flood water since the end of July. Floods are frequent in West and Central Africa during the rainy season, which typically lasts from May to October. However, this year the rains came in greater quantity, immediately flooding ponds and drainage systems. Large parts of the region are now under water, with numerous countries recording above-average precipitation.

SENEGAL

FLOODING IN AND AROUND THE CAPITAL KILLED 3 PEOPLE

Between 2 and 4 September, heavy rains and severe floods in the capital Dakar and neighboring regions killed three people and affected 208 locations across the city.

According to the “Agence Nationale de l’Aviation Civile et de la Météorologie” (ANACIM), the country’s meteorological agency, on 2 September, some southern parts saw as much as 88 mm of rain. More rainfall is expected and is likely to affect several regions in the coming days.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

AID AGENCIES PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO 7,000 PEOPLE IN ISOLATED AREAS

Humanitarian partners started scaling-up emergency assistance in Ouanda-Djallé subprefecture, Vakaga prefecture, in the north. They delivered nutrition, health, and non-food items to 7,000 people living in isolated areas and conducted preparations for future interventions. The assistance is part of a broader strategy jointly adopted by humanitarian agencies aiming at assisting about 28,500 people in the remote areas of Vakaga prefecture in the north and HauteKotto Prefecture in the north-east. These communities live in precarious conditions and are almost completely isolated during the rainy season, between April and October.

NIGERIA

ARMED MEN KILL FOUR CIVILIANS IN A MOSQUE IN ASKIRA

On 2 September, armed men killed four civilians in a mosque in Askira Local Government Area (LGA) in Borno state, in the northeast. According to local media, the fighters opened fire on worshippers as they gathered for the evening prayers, killing four people on the spot and injuring others. This is the second major attack targeting civilians in Askira in the last two weeks. The area has been witnessing a resurgence of violence after months of relative calm.

Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs