June 12, 2024 – Page 5 – Le Nation Niger

June 12, 2024

Parliament marks 14th African Border Day

Parliament on Wednesday, marked the 14th African Border Day, which aims at sensitising stakeholders on the role of borders in promoting peace, security, and stability on the continent.

In line with the African Union’s theme for the year 2024 of Education, the theme for this year’s African Border Day celebration is ‘Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality and Relevant Learning in Africa’. Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, who read a statement on the floor of the House to mark the statutory commemoration, said: ‘As we mark the 14th African Border Day, we salute the hard work and dedication of all who continue to work tirelessly towards safe and secure boundaries in Africa’.

‘Our special appreciation goes to the Ghana Boundary Commission, under the leadership of its Coordinator, Major General Emmanuel W. Kotia, and all the
ir partners, for their invaluable contributions towards safeguarding our boundaries and promoting regional stability.’

Mr Jinapor reiterated the profound words of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, that ‘Africa is one continent, one people and one nation,’ and we must continue to inspire Africans, and lead them to recommit themselves to the ideals of unity, solidarity, and cooperation that underpin the African Union, while recognizing that their borders were not barriers to be feared but bridges to be crossed in pursuit of a shared future of peace, prosperity, and progress for all Africans.

June 7, every year, has been set aside to commemorate African Borders, to create awareness and celebrate the existence and significance of borders.

Since its inception in 2010, the Day has, also, been used to highlight the essence of the African Union Border Programme (AUBP) to peace, regional, and continental integration, as well as progress made in border management.

Mr Jinapor noted that following the adopti
on of the African Union Convention on Cross-Border Cooperation, also known as the ‘Niamey Convention,’ in June 2014, the Day had also been used to highlight the significance of the Convention, as a crucial framework for integrated border governance and cross-border cooperation.

‘Mr Speaker, since the partitioning of our continent, beginning with the infamous Berlin Conference of 1884, Africa has been left with porous borders that have been the source of several governance-related conflicts in individual states and across regions,’ he said.

‘As we work towards building and promoting unity, peace, security and trade across on the continent we are reminded of the vital role of international boundaries in shaping our collective identity and fostering regional integration and cooperation.’

He reiterated the crucial significance of educating citizens, particularly those living along border communities, about the importance of land and maritime boundaries and their role as stakeholders for safeguarding our intern
ational boundaries.

Mr Jinapor said the Ghana Boundary Commission had, over the years, worked tireless reaffirm and safeguard the nation’s international boundaries, to ensure that Ghana’s territorial sovereignty was always protected.

He said the Commission had led efforts to promote peaceful co-existence with our neighbours through regular sensitisation and cross-border activities with neighbouring countries.

The Minister said the work of the Commission in upholding international law to resolve boundary disputes through peaceful cooperation had been recognised across the continent, several other countries engaging the Commission to learn from them.

Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin remarked that borders were really barriers, but it was up to the Boundary Commissions to translate them into bridges.

He directed the Leadership of the House to fix a Committee of the Whole Meeting of the House with the Ghana Boundary Commission.

This, he said, was to enable the House to receive briefing on the activities
of the Commission.

Mr Dominic Nitiwul, the Minister of Defence and New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Bimbilla, in his contribution to the statement, commended the Ghana Boundary Commission for the good works they were doing.

He urged the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources to ensure that the Commission was well equipped with human resources.

Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Deputy Minority Leader, and National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Ellembele, reiterated the need for a borderless Africa.

Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, NDC MP for Banda, said the Ghana Boundary Commission Act 795 was passed by Parliament in 2010 under late President John Evans Atta Mills while the Commission itself was set-up under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

In attendance to observe proceedings of the House was Major General Emmanuel W. Kotia, Coordinator, Ghana Boundary Commission, and his team of staff.

Source: Ghana News Agency

June 12, 2024

Parliament to launch Democracy Cup on Thursday

The launch of the maiden edition of the Democracy Cup will be held on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at the Justice D.F. Annan Auditorium, at Parliament House in Accra.

The one-off cup match between Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak scheduled for Friday, July 5, 2024, at the Accra Sports Stadium is part of activities to commemorate 30 years of Parliamentary Democracy in Ghana.

The launch would be attended by Members of Parliament, the media, and officials of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) and other stakeholders.

The winner of the match between the two premier giants would have the opportunity to play against United States-based club, DC United in Washington later in the year.

There would also be a special curtain raiser between Members of Parliament and former Black Stars players. Parliament last year celebrated its 30th anniversary since its establishment in 1993.

This follows the coming into effect of the 1992 Constitution and the return of the co
untry into a democratic system of governance. Other activities earmarked to commemorate the anniversary include parliamentary sittings and debate, peace walks and fun games.

Source: Ghana News Agency

June 12, 2024

‘Ghana must improve in the long distances’ – GOC President

Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) has said there is the need to create more opportunities for the long-distance athletes in the country to unearth and groom more talents in the discipline.

According to Mr. Nunoo Mensah, this had become necessary due to the stride countries like Uganda, Kenya who were noted for long distances are now making great strides in the sprints.

‘These countries are now making great strides in the sprints in addition to the long-distances, hence Ghana which is also known for the sprints must up her game to catch up with the growing trends,’ he noted.

Mr. Nunoo Mensah said this at the launch of 3rd edition of the Accra Inter-City Homowo Marathon, on Tuesday, June 11, 2024.

He said, the new development would go to the benefit of the countries that were already established in the long distances, as they would pick medals from both disciplines at international events.

‘This why Ghana needs to have more competitions in the long distances to develop mor
e athletes to compete at the international level.

‘The likes of William Amponsah were able to make it to the top due to the availability of competitions like this. I am hopeful he would qualify to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games,’ he added.

He commended the organisers of the annual Accra Inter-City Homowo Marathon- Medivents Consult for the laudable initiative to organize such an event that promotes healthy living and an opportunity for long distance athletes to perform.

He urged the indigenes in the Greater Accra Region to take advantage of the event in the capital which is to promote the festival and tourism in the region.

The Accra Inter-City Homowo Marathon will be held on Saturday, August 3, with the start point at the Accra Sports Stadium and the finish point at Bukom Boxing Arena.

Source: Ghana News Agency

June 12, 2024

Ghana’s Para-Athletics to participate in World Para-Athletics qualifier

Ghana’s Para Athletics team, has arrived in Paris, France, to participate in the final World Para Athletics-sanctioned event before the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

This event is the Paris 2024 WPA Grand Prix, which would be held between June 13 and 14, 2024.

Emmanuel Kweku Acquah, a promising athlete, has successfully undergone classification in Paris ahead of the Grand Prix 2024.

This process is crucial as it determines the athlete’s eligibility and ensures fair competition.

It’s a significant step for Acquah as this is his first international Para-Athletics event for Ghana.

Other members of the team include, Zinabu Issah, who won two gold medal in Marrakech, Morocco, Edmund Govina, who clinched one gold medal in Marrakech.

The team is led by Mr. Henry Larbi, Chef de Mission for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, and Mr Ignatius Elletey, the African Paralympic Committee Administrator.

A statement from the NPC expressed its appreciation to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, for the support.

Source: Gha
na News Agency

June 12, 2024

CCM Ghana threatens demo June 25 over uncleared medical supplies at port

Members of the Country Coordinating Mechanism (Ghana CCM) of the Global Fund in Ghana have threatened to hit the streets on June 25, 2024, to register their displeasure over the Government’s ‘inability’ to clear remaining consignment of medical supplies shipped into the country by donors.

The group lamented that there were 120 containers of medication from the Global Fund left to be cleared at the port, but the Government was not attending to the matter with the urgency it deserved.

In April this year, a group of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) held a press conference to draw the Government’s attention to some locked-up commodities donated by the Global Fund.

The freights comprised medications for treatment of Tuberculosis, Malaria, insecticide treated nets, and rapid diagnostic test kits.

Ghana CCM, in an open letter to the President on June 11, 2024, signed by the Acting Chair, Mr Ernest Amoabeng Ortsin, said 14 out of the 182 containers were cleared by the Government, following agitations by the CSO
s.

It said additional 48 containers were later released, however, some ‘are still gathering moss’ at the port while health facilities in the country were out of supply of the commodities.

Mr Ortsin said the inability of the Government to clear the remaining medical provisions at the port had been a matter of concern to members of the international community.

‘Some are asking whether the Government of Ghana no longer has control over its ports, because they [international agencies] do not understand how a sovereign State cannot clear commodities from its port,’ he stated.

The Acting Chair said the situation required quicker intervention by the Government as it could affect relations between Ghana and the Global Fund.

‘Global Fund is a very strategic partner of Ghana and we need to desist from inactions that may jeopardise our relations with the Fund. Since 2002, Ghana has never experienced this kind of challenge in receiving Global Fund commodities. So what has changed?’ He asked.

Mr Ortsin said Ghana CC
M was aware of the Government’s financial challenges, but that should not be ‘an excuse for the current situation we find ourselves.

‘We are not enthused about government’s handling of the matter. As a country, we should not have sunken so low to this level where we have now become the butt of international jokes and gossips,’ he stated.

Ghana CCM, therefore, urged the Government to support the Ministry of Health to ‘work out a lasting solution’ to the difficulty in clearing the outstanding medical supplies from the port.

Mr Ortsin said the group would exercise its civic rights during the demonstration on June 25, 2024, and present a petition to the Government on ‘a litany of issues’ affecting Ghana’s relations with Global Fund and other donors.

Source: Ghana News Agency