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Category: West Africa

West Africa has been defined as including the 18 countries Benin, Burkina Faso, the island of Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, the island of Saint Helena, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe and Togo.

Africa Mali West Africa World 

French is no longer Mali’s official language

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , ,
Mali has announced it has scrapped French as its official language, doing so more than six decades after it gained independence from France. A drafted constitution was voted for at a referendum last month. The constitutional court validated the 96.91% approval from voters as the final results. In the approved document was the proposal to remove French as official language.… Read More
Africa West Africa World 

Niger’s President in detention amid reports of a coup attempt

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , ,
The President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum has been seized by his guards amidst fears of a coup attempt in the West African country. No gunshots have been heard. The African Union has condemned the development describing them as “unacceptable” and urged the soldiers involved to return to barracks immediately. The Chairperson of the African Union Commission @AUC_MoussaFaki condemns the coup… Read More
Africa Ghana West Africa World 

Ghana’s parliament votes to abolish the death penalty

Elwin Mandowa, , , , ,
Ghana’s lawmakers have voted to abolish the death penalty and remove it from the country’s statute books. The parliamentarians on Tuesday approved for the death penalty to be replaced with life sentence as part of an amendment to the Criminal and Other Offences Act. The amendment bill, sponsored by one of the MPs was passed on Tuesday and now awaits… Read More
Africa Featured Ghana West Africa World 

Ghana: Minister quits job over alleged stashed cash

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , , , ,
A Ghanaian minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah has been forced to leave her job after court documents revealed that she may have stashed cash amounting to millions of dollars at her home. Media reports last Friday revealed that the minister who was in charge of sanitation, reported two of her maids to the police for stealing money from her. The maid… Read More
Africa West Africa World 

Guinea-Bissau: Anger after government suspends teachers salaries

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , ,
Teachers in Guinea-Bissau are up in arms with the government for suspending the payment of their salaries. The government has declared war on ghost civil servants on its payroll which it said has been bloated. A government statement said most of the fraudulent claims are going to fictitious workers. The country’s Council of Ministers this week instructed the education ministry… Read More
Africa Nigeria News and Headlines Sports West Africa World 

Nigerian world-record hurdler misses drug tests

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , ,
A top Nigerian athlete and world -record hurdler Tobi Amusan, has been charged with breaking anti-doping rules. Amusan is the world record holder for the 100m hurdles. At world championships in Oregon last year, Amusan stunned the crowd by setting the world record with a time of 12.12 seconds in the semifinals of the 100-meter hurdles. She came back about 90 minutes… Read More
Africa Nigeria News and Headlines West Africa World 

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu takes over as ECOWAS chairman

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , ,
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has taken over as the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). He was elected chair at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the regional bloc held on Sunday afternoon in Bissau, capital of Guinea-Bissau. The ECOWAS Chairmanship is a position rotationally held by one… Read More
Africa Nigeria News and Headlines West Africa World 

Gunmen attack Nigeria’s Benue State killing 24

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , ,
Suspected gunmen have attacked some communities in Nigeria’s Benue State, killing 24 residents. The bandits believed to be gang members of the slain Terwase Akwaza, aka Gana, invaded several communities. Reports media say the attackers burnt several houses in villages. An indigene, who spoke on condition of animosity described how the 24 residents were killed. “You know that the three… Read More
Africa West Africa World 

ECOWAS leaders hold summit in Guinea Bissau

Elwin Mandowa, , , , ,
West African leaders are meeting in Guinea Bissau’s capital Bissau on Sunday to discuss various issues affecting the region. The Heads of State will be considering reports from the Ninetieth Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers meeting held from July 6 to 7, 2023, in Bissau, a statement from ECOWAS said. The Sixty-Third Ordinary Session of the Authority… Read More
Africa Nigeria News and Headlines West Africa World 

Nigeria confirms 80 deaths from diphtheria outbreak

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , ,
Health authorities in Nigeria have confirmed an outbreak of diphtheria following the death of a four-year-old in the capital, Abuja. Nigeria has recorded almost 800 confirmed cases of diphtheria since last year, officials have said with at least 80 deaths. The highly contagious infection can cause breathing difficulties and heart problems and particularly fatal. Diphtheria, a highly contagious vaccine-preventable disease spreads… Read More