Africa Ghana West Africa World 

Ghana criminalises witchcraft accusations and abuse of victims

For centuries most African countries including Ghana have struggled with the practice of witchcraft accusations. Often elderly women risk banishment, physical abuse and sometimes lynched once they are accused of being a witch. Ghana’s parliament last Friday passed a bill into law to protect such vulnerable people. The new law makes witchcraft accusation and the abuse of victims a crime.… Read More
Africa Featured West Africa World 

Benin opposition returns to parliament after wins in polls

The opposition in Benin has made a comeback to the country’s parliament after winning 28 seats, provisional results from Sunday’s poll showed. Benin’s opposition was absent from the parliament for four years. The 2019 legislative polls were marred by controversy after the country’s electoral commission blocked all opposition parties from contesting. Not having an opposition party in parliament meant no… Read More
Africa Nigeria News and Headlines West Africa World 

Nigeria threatens to leave ECOWAS over nepotistic recruitment

– – Nigeria has issued a threat to withdraw its membership from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The threat of withdrawal according to Nigeria is due to what it alleges to be lopsided staff recruitments. Nigerian representatives at the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja claim some principal officers in the regional bloc have allegedly defied a directive to… Read More
Africa South Africa Southern Africa World 

South Africa: Alleged parliament arsonist appears in court

– – A man suspected of setting ablaze South Africa’s parliament complex last Sunday has appeared in court. On Tuesday the Cape Town Magistrates Court charged the 49-year old, for arson and then adjourned hearing to January 11. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila told journalists on Tuesday that the suspect named as Zandile Christmas Mafe was also found with… Read More
Africa Ghana West Africa World 

Ghana’s lawmakers fight in parliament over e-levy voting

– – There was chaos in Ghana’s parliament on Monday night as lawmakers vote on the controversial levy on electronic transactions under a certificate of urgency. The E-levy has sharply divided the house, with opposition lawmakers demanding that government withdraws it before passing the 2022 budget. In the presentation of the country’s 2022 budget statement last month, the country’s Finance… Read More
Africa East Africa World 

Somalia: Lawmakers vote to extend President’s term by two years

– – Somalia’s Lower House of Parliament has voted to approve a bill to extend President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo’s term in office by two years. The controversial special election bill was overwhelmingly approved by 149 members. It needs to be approved by the upper chamber before becoming law. Mr Farmajo welcomed the passing of the bill in the lower chamber,… Read More
Africa Featured Ghana West Africa World 

Ghana’s parliament suspends sitting amid Covid-19 infections

Ghana’s parliament has suspended sitting for at least three weeks following reports of Covid-19 infections among lawmakers. More than 100 cases of the virus had been detected among MPs and their staffers. On Tuesday the speaker of the house, Alban Bagbin said he had “decided, in consultation with political leaders, that the Assembly session will be adjourned for three weeks.”… Read More
Africa Featured Ghana West Africa World 

Ghana: Opposition member elected speaker of parliament amid chaos

– – Ghanaian lawmakers have elected a member of the opposition party as speaker of the country’s parliament. Former Member of Parliament, Alban Bagbin was elected after chaos broke out in the lawmaking chamber on Thursday morning. Soldiers earlier stormed the Parliament during the process towards electing the new speaker. The military officers had gone into the chamber to try… Read More
Africa Ghana World 

Soldiers storm Ghana’s parliament amid chaos over election of speaker

– – Soldiers stormed Ghana’s Parliament on Thursday morning during the process towards electing a new speaker for the lawmaking chamber. The military officers had gone into the chamber to try and restore calm following chaos that characterized the voting process. Elected MPs from the two leading political parties in the country, the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic… Read More