East Africa Rising

Tuesday, 5 September 2023

PRESS RELEASE: High-Level Dialogue at Africa Climate Summit Explores "Africa’s Green Minerals Strategy" as a Catalyst for Continental Minerals-based Industrialization.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

High-Level Dialogue at Africa Climate Summit Explores "Africa's Green Minerals Strategy" as a Catalyst for Continental Minerals-based Industrialization.

Nairobi, Kenya — September 5, 2023 — The African Minerals Development Center (AMDC), in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Open Society Foundation, has successfully concluded a high-level dialogue session at the Africa Climate Summit 2023. This significant event, held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya, brought together experts, policymakers, and thought leaders to delve into the potential of "Africa's Green Minerals Strategy" (AGMS) in transforming the continent's minerals-based industrialization.

The session, moderated by Titus Gwemende, Division Director - Equity, Open Society Foundation, featured presentations and discussions from distinguished speakers who shared insights into the strategic foundation and importance of the AGMS.

Paul Jourdan, an independent Consultant, underscored the AGMS's essential pillars, emphasizing its alignment with key frameworks such as the Africa Mining Vision (AU 2009), the Africa Commodity Strategy (AU 2021), and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Additionally, he highlighted the interconnectedness of AGMS with various continental policies, strategies, and regional mineral strategies.

Jourdan elucidated on the primary "green" minerals central to AGMS, which encompass Aluminium, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Graphite, Iron – steel, Lithium, Manganese, Nickel, Platinum Group Metals (PGMs), Rare earth elements (REEs), Vanadium, and Zinc. He also proposed vital instruments for the implementation of the AGMS, including the Green MSC Local-African Content (LAC) System and the AfCFTA Configured Green Mineral Value Chains (MVCs) Common External Tariff (CET).

Chiumya Chiza Charles, Acting Director for Industry, Minerals, Entrepreneurship, and Tourism at the African Union Commission (AUC), stressed the need for a practical approach to resource-based industrialization, outlining the importance of a clear vision for Africa's mineral wealth utilization. He emphasized the role of the AGMS in fostering policy coherence within the AfCFTA and the intention to reinforce the AMDC with a dedicated Green Minerals section.

Dr. Marit Y. Kitaw, Interim Director of AMDC, highlighted Africa's substantial mineral reserves, including critical resources like chromium, cobalt, and manganese. She expressed optimism that AGMS could leverage these resources for the benefit of African citizens while aligning with the Africa Mining Vision. Dr. Kitaw noted that the Africa Climate Summit 2023 served as a catalyst for a renewed, resolute, and unified African vision, centered on climate resilience, fair development, and a just energy transition. She called upon member states to ratify the AMDC statute to facilitate the implementation of AGMS and related strategies.

Antonio Pedro, Acting Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), discussed AGMS's focus on strengthening Africa's capacity for resource identification through geological surveys.

Prof. Kevin Chika Urama, Chief Economist & VP at the African Development Bank (AfDB), emphasized the importance of ownership and access to markets. He emphasized the need for informed policies to avoid the export of raw materials and promote value addition and market creation, particularly among Africa's talented youth.

In his closing remarks, Prof. Urama highlighted the urgency of redefining Africa's natural resource usage, citing AGMS as a pivotal step in this direction.

Dr. Marit then made an announcement on the," Launch of the Africa Green Minerals Strategy".

She also informed the plenary that the draft Africa's Green Minerals Strategy will be considered by African countries' Senior Officials and Ministers during the 4th Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee of Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals under the theme: "Enhancing Africa's Trade Competitiveness through Industrial and Mineral Resources Development and Tourism" to be held from 2nd – 7th October 2023 in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

The high-level dialogue at the Africa Climate Summit 2023 provided a platform for fruitful discussions on Africa's Green Minerals Strategy and its potential to drive sustainable development and industrialization across the continent.

For media inquiries and additional information, please contact:

Caroline Obure,

Communication Consultant,

African Minerals Development Centre

+254722746773

CarolineO@African-Union.org

source: http://ecowasbusinessnews.com/blog/2023/09/05/for-immediate-release-high-level-dialogue-at-africa-climate-summit-explores-africas-green-minerals-strategy-as-a-catalyst-for-continental-minerals-based-industrialization/

Monday, 4 September 2023

ECOWAS BUSINESS NEWS RADAR WATCH: The Pan-African Postal Union (PAPU) Tower is Inaugurated

*ECOWAS BUSINESS NEWS RADAR WATCH:* The Pan-African Postal Union (PAPU) Tower is Inaugurated in Arusha, Tanzania

#AfCFTA Secretariat's *Dr Talkmore Chidede*, Digital Trade Expert focal point, makes a ROBUST case for *postal services; e-commerce* and synergies.

A good read! #PapuTower

READ: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dr-talkmore-chidede-25198881_afcfta-digitaltrade-ecommerce-activity-7104387562416353280-J0pB?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android

#Agenda2063 #AfricaPostalStrategy #AfricaPost #PAPU #afCFTA

Tuesday, 25 April 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : HON KWAMI EDEM SENANU SWORN IN AS GHANA'S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE AU ADVISORY BOARD AGAINST CORRUPTION (AU ABC)

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE* :

HON KWAMI EDEM SENANU SWORN IN AS GHANA'S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE AU ADVISORY BOARD AGAINST CORRUPTION (AU ABC)

*Arusha, Tanzania*, 25 April, 2023 – Ghana's representative to the AU's agency responsible for promoting Anti-corruption was sworn in today at the headquarters of AU ABC in Arusha.

Hon Kwami Edem Senanu is now an official member of the AU ABC.

Hon Edem Senanu being sworn in

Prior to his nomination and endorsement by AU Member States, Hon Senanu was the co-Chair of Citizens Movement Against Anti-Corruption (CmAC) in Ghana, and a very visible face – helping fight corruption – on Ghanaian media with the ability to speak truth to power.

Even a day prior to his inauguration in Arusha, Ghanaian press were busy interviewing him about the most topical issue in Ghana – the illegal mining that has held whole country to ransom.

ENDs

*FOR MORE INFORMATION AND INTERVIEWS*

E K Bensah Jr

Communications & Outreach Advisor

Office of Hon Kwami Edem Senanu

AU Advisory Board against Corruption (AUABC)

twitter: @ekbensah

Mobile: +233.533.85.47 / 268.687.653

Eml: ekbensah@ecowasbusinessnews.com

***********

*****************************************************
E.K.Bensah Jr,
*Deputy Executive Director -- AfCFTA Policy Network-Ghana & Diaspora

*AU Department of Trade & Industry Media Network on Africa's Industrialization
*Agenda2063 Media Network Member
*APRM Communicators Network
*M-D, EcowasBusinessNews.blogspot.com
*Head of Comms & Research & Host -- "Africa in Focus Show" /AIFTV
*former Exec Producer -- XYZ Africa News Bulletin@8

#####
http://www.twitter.com/ekbensah |
*TEL:+233.268.687.653 / +233.233.311.789 / +233.243.111.789
*eml: ekbensah@gmail.com | africainfocusshow@gmail.com
*Telegram/Whatsapp:+233.233.311.789
AFRICA IN FOCUS: africainfocusshow.blogspot.com
________________________________________________________________________________
EKBENSAH DotNet: Regional integration Intelligence| West Africa-ECOWAS | Communications | Civil society
_________________________________________________________

Monday, 21 November 2022

Fwd: INVITATION TO THE AMDC VIRTUAL SIDE EVENT AT THE AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT ON INDUSTRIALIZATION AND ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION ON NOVEMBER 24TH 2022

fya

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Thuso Mogae <MogaeT@africa-union.org>
Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2022, 12:02
Subject: INVITATION TO THE AMDC VIRTUAL SIDE EVENT AT THE AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT ON INDUSTRIALIZATION AND ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION ON NOVEMBER 24TH 2022
To: Thuso Mogae <MogaeT@africa-union.org>

Dear Sir/ Madam,

You are cordially invited to participate in AMDCs virtual side event in the margins of the AU Industrialization Summit taking place on 24^th November 2022 from 14:00hrs to 15:45hrs Niamey time. Please note the link on the brochure attached.

The concept note, program and brochure are attached.

We count on your active participation.

Kind Regards,

Thuso Mogae

Administrative and Finance Officer

African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC)

Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals(ETTIM)

African Union Commission Headquarters

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

+251 963971624

Wednesday, 2 November 2022

APN CONFERS HONORARY MEMBERSHIP UPON THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA

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APN Group led by APN Chairman Dr. Joe Tackie met with the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia on Monday 17th October, 2022 at the Jubilee House.

The meeting presented an opportunity to formally introduce APN to the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana while highlighting the role of APN in attaining a successful African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The Chairman expressed focus on women and the youth within the activities of APN as well as African Continental Free Trade Area sensitization programmes. Honing in on Africa's population potential by 2050, he elaborated on the necessity of youth involvement within AfCFTA and how if properly mobilized, could effectively make Africa a global leader in the coming 4th Industrial Revolution.

The Chairman emphasized the role of women within the mentioned 4th Industrial Revolution, considering that women comprise the larger population in Africa. He cited further that women constitute the majority of the present trading population across the continent and as such, focus on improving the capacities of women in trade in Africa is not an option.

The Chairman of APN further inform the Vice President of the international nature of APN with representatives from across the world as evidenced by 2 representatives of the University of Cincinnati present at the meeting. He expressed the importance of this international community for carrying out the global sensitization agenda of AfCFTA across the world.

The Chairman proceeded to respectfully confer Honorary Membership of APN on His Excellency the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia; to which the Vice President warmly accepted.

He made known the strong ties that exist between the AfCFTA Secretariat and APN Group and especially, the relationship established with the Secretary General of the AfCFTA Secretariat Wamkele Mene.

He cited the acknowledgement of the Secretary General on the unique role played by APN in the realization of AfCFTA thus far, emphasizing the necessity of the relationship between the two intertwined organisations.

The APN Chairman briefed the Vice President of the Republic on some key activities undertaken within the APN calendar such as the Africa Globalized Investment Forum and State of AfCFTA Trading.

The Executive Director stated the intentions of APN to invite the Vice President to the next Africa Globalized Investment Forum in Seychelles in 2023.

The Vice President acknowledged the African Continental Free Trade Area as the largest Free Trade Area in the world with over $2 billion dollars in trading goods expected to be generated each year. Africa has no excuse than to make it work.

He stated that "the advocacy of APN is critical to actualizing the goals of AfCFTA".

The Vice President expressed his sincere gladness to know that the role of women and youth is at the forefront of the APN agenda, citing that women and youth remain the key to Africa's future given our population potential.

He highlighted the launch of Pan African Payment Settlement Systems (PAPSS) earlier in 2022 to help facilitate the challenges faced in cross border payments across the continent and the diaspora.

Furthermore, the Vice President emphasized that the quickest way for Africa to be transformed is through the development of technology, focusing particularly on digitization initiatives that are needed all across the continent.

His Excellency commended the government on the successful implementation of the ECOWAS Biometric ID Card which has become a prerequisite for most systems operations in Ghana.

Furthermore, he cited Ghana as one of only four states worldwide to have successfully implemented this nationwide initiative. This initiative as well as the technological advancement made within the past years has had a tremendous effect on bank account ownership which has risen from 30% to 90%.

Also, the digital property address initiative has brought about vast new opportunities and accessibilities to business in Ghana. It opened up the e-Commerce sector and the formal economy.

His Excellency Dr. Bawumia stated emphatically that with the One District One Factory promise, Ghana now has at least one factory in each district with as many as five in some. He added that 70% of factories are in the Agro processing sector.

He further added that Ghana now possesses the world's largest medical drone delivery system which is pivotal to such exercises as conveying blood to centers where needed. He emphasized that every flight potentially saves a life.

Source: APN TradeNews

#AfDB Releases New Report on Security, Investment & Development on Sidelines of #AUTangiers2022

The AfDB has responded to the just-ended Tangiers conference on peace, security and development nexus by launching a report unpacking *Security, Investment & Development* 👇🏿

The report highlights several significant issues such as:

*Insecurity on the rise:* The report finds that incidences of conflict and violence are on the rise in Africa. _*In the last twenty years, more than 469,000 people lost their lives due to conflicts and human insecurity*_. In 2021, more than 18,000 conflicts affected the continent and the number of refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) reached 32 million.

*Government response*; implication for development budgets: Governments are responding to insecurity _*by increasing budgetary allocation to security spending*_. Military expenditure in Africa was an estimated US$39 billion in 2021[based on data from 48 countries], 7 percent higher than in 2018 and 16 percent higher than in 2011. Over the past decade, the biggest percentage increases in military expenditure occurred in the Sahel countries of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Countries with large development needs are allocating a large share of their GDPs to military expenditure, undermining prospects for attaining the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the targets of Agenda 2063.

*Fiscal implications of multiple crisis:* Many countries are faced with multiple crisis _*imposed by conflict, climate change, and COVID-19*_. These countries are dealing with recurrent public financing deficit, ballooning debt levels and limited private capital to bridge their domestic financing needs. The dilemma of allocating scarce resources to mitigate against these crises is putting immense pressures on fiscal balances, threatening debt sustainability, and adversely affecting people and livelihoods.

*Spillover risks:* The report presents the risks of _*cross-border spill overs both in terms of conflict and their consequences*_. Fourteen African countries that have a current conflict situation _*share 80 land borders with other African countries*_. Due to these spill-over risks, conflict in a few African countries undermines the continent's competitiveness as a destination for trade and investment.

*Inadequate resources and uncoordinated approaches:* While development partners present opportunities for building peace in the continent, _*the lack of a coherent strategy and limitations in both resource availability and their predictability have constrained progress and sustainability*_.

Findings of the study are already informing the Bank's engagements with the African Union, member countries of the Bank Group, development partners and other key stakeholder, *to explore the Security-Indexed Investment Bonds ("SIIBs") initiative*. The initiative plans to mobilize adequate scalable, adaptable, and flexible resources to effectively address the root causes of insecurity, enhance the capacity of formal institutions, build communities' resilience, and rehabilitate communities and infrastructure adversely impacted by insecurity.

The report will complement the Bank's engagements in fragile and conflict affected situations and the work of African Union's Peace and Security Architecture.

"The African Development Bank Group remains committed to working with the African Union, the Regional Economic Communities, development partners, governments, the private sector and civil society organizations to mobilize the resources needed to help address Africa's development and regional integration challenges," N'Sele said..

Contact:

Amba Mpoke-Bigg, Communication and External Relations Department, email: a.mpoke-bigg@afdb.org

#Niger launches #WURI project to issue biometric ID for regional trade and public services

Oct 31, 2022, 1:33 pm EDT | Chris Burt

A regional system for digital identity that is *interoperable between West African countries has been launched in Niger*, LeSahel.org reports. The project will support the establishment of a biometric ID for domestic and regional use.

The West Africa Unique Identification for Regional Integration and Inclusion (WURI) is a project to build foundational identity systems in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The WURI-Niger project will begin with strengthening legal and institutional frameworks, identifying gaps in the existing legal foundation. The second component is the establishment of robust and inclusive identification systems, including unique identification numbers linked to biometric data. The government will issue credentials free of charge, according to an English translation of the article.

The third component of the project is intended to provide documents that can be used to access public and private-sector services. These credentials are intended to support cross-border service access through the verification and authentication of users' digital identity.

Biometric identification will be used to provide access to basic public services, WURI-Niger says in an announcement on LinkedIn.

The project also includes upgrading the capacity of the High Authority for the Protection of Personal Data (HAPDP).

The project is not intended to replace the existing national civil status system, but rather to extend it with a regional credential which is also recognized within the country.

Niger's implementation is part of the second phase of the WURI project, which is funded with $273 million from the World Bank. Togo began working with MOSIP to develop its national ID system in line with the WURI initiative towards the end of 2021.

The Niger launch announcement was attended by representatives of the Presidency of the Republic of Niger, the World Bank and its ID4D initiative, UNICEF, UNHCR, the World Food Programme and other national authorities, according to another LinkedIn post.

If successful, the project will deliver proof of identity to 22 million people in Niger by 2026.

Source: https://www.biometricupdate.com/202210/niger-launches-wuri-project-to-issue-biometric-id-for-regional-trade-and-public-services