Elon Musk buys Twitter for $44 billion

Tesla Founder and CEO Elon Must has struck a deal to purchase Twitter for $44 billion, which translates into $54.20 per share that the world’s richest man will pay to owners.

In a tweeted statement after the deal was announced, Musk said “free speech is the bedrock of functioning democracy and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated.”

Elon Must mounted a hostile takeover bid of Twitter earlier this month against which the then board of the company fought to avert. But in the end, shareholders caved in and approved the sale.

Stay tuned to DNT for more on this developing story.

DNT ews.

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Nigeria Arrests Suspected Billionaire Drug Lord

The Nigerian authorities say they have arrested a suspected drug trafficker, described as a billionaire drug baron, while onboard a plane at Lagos’ main airport.

In a statement, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency said investigations had identified Chief Afam Ukatu as a major importer of large consignments of Tramadol, an opioid painkiller that the agency deemed illicit.

The arrest was made on 13 April but announced on Monday.

It’s unclear whether Mr Ukatu has responded to the accusations or where he’s being held.

It followed months of surveillance and evading arrest, the agency said.

Mr Ukatu is accused of owning pharmaceutical and plastic manufacturing companies that “he used as a cover to import illicit drugs into Nigeria”.

“This is in addition to operating 103 bank accounts, most of which are used to launder money,” the agency said.

 

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‘It looks like returning to Ghana was a mistake’ – Evacuated students from Ukraine lament

The Ghanaian students who fled the war in Ukraine say they are frustrated by the government’s lackadaisical attitude in placing them in new schools despite numerous assurances and promises.

Leadership of the students say despite the many assurances, nothing concrete has been done so far.

The government of Ghana evacuated over one thousand students who were in various universities in Ukraine at the peak of the war, although others refused to return to Ghana.

In a Citi News’ interview, the President of NUGS Ukraine, Philip Bobbie Ansah, says the students are frustrated.

“We had a couple of meetings initially and they [government] made us understand that they are very much positioned to help us and secure schools for us. They requested data which we made available to them. Everything seems so slow. We do not know what is happening now.”

“Students and administrators have given them everything they asked for but we do not know what is causing the delay. Some of us refused to come to Ghana which seems like the best decision because they have opportunities, so it now looks like it was a mistake for some of us to come to Ghana.”

The government had given indications of engaging Ghanaian students who were evacuated from Ukraine on options available to ensure the continuity of their education.

This was reiterated at a meeting with parents of the students and other stakeholders in Ghana.

The meeting deliberated on ways government would support the students continue their academic calendar.

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Kenyans worried about election violence

Most of Kenya’s elections over the last 20 years have involved some level of violence and protests.

The worst was in 2007 when at least 1,000 people were killed and more than half a million displaced.

So it’s not surprising that many in Kenya are looking ahead to the upcoming elections in August with a sense of nervousness.

Kenyan journalist John Allan Namu tells us that it doesn’t help that some politicians are using “unsanitary” language on social media, that the independent election body is underfunded and untrusted by many Kenyans, and that the recent process for nominating candidates was chaotic and controversial.

“We are not rid of the ghost of violence in our elections… Even though it has not been switched on, there is current violence and intolerance that can be turned on at any moment,” he says.

“We are a country that has refused to take the many turning points that have been offered to us either through very painful points in our past or through opportunities,” he adds.

So what hope is there for a peaceful election in Kenya?

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Togo MPs Pass Vote To Join Commonwealth

Togo’s parliament has passed a resolution asking the government to make a formal bid for membership of the Commonwealth, a group of mainly former British colonies.

The country is already a member of the Economic Organisation of West African States (Ecowas) and the International Organisation of La Francophonie – a group of French-speaking countries that are mostly former French colonies.

“Togo is not leaving the Francophonie. It will only strengthen the English teaching programmes and reactivate other partnerships,” the privately-owned Icilome news website quoted speaker of parliament Yawa Tsegan as saying.

The resolution, passed on Friday, asked the government to submit its application for Commonwealth membership at the bloc’s next summit in Rwanda in June.

The West African nation embarked on the process of joining the Commonwealth in 2014.

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Costa Rican Vice President, Epsy Campbell Barr, Reveals Her African Identity

The Vice President of Costa Rica, Epsy Campbell Barr, has disclosed what her African identity is.

Speaking to a gathering in Accra whilst visiting Ghana during a Return Mission that is targeted at Africans living in the diaspora, she explained that her family DNA tests proved to her that she is truly an African.

This, she added, is because her results showed that she was from multiple African countries, including Ghana; a discovery that has made her very happy.

“I’m a descendant and daughter of Africa, specifically from Nigeria, Mali, Benin, Togo, Ivory Coast, and Ghana, and I also have in my blood the imprint of Cameroon, Congo and the Bantu people of the West. This is what my family DNA analysis provided and that’s why I say with all authority that I’m proud that I’m here, that I’m a daughter of Africa,” she said.

Espy Campbell Barr also sent a word out to other diasporans that they can return home and enjoy the beauty of their heritage.

“Today, I speak to you from the bottom of my heart, to say with strength to the generation of African people who were violently taken away from their families, their communities, their tribes, their histories, that we’re able to return,” she said.

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People Of African Descent Have Stories Only They Can Tell – Bawumia

As part of initiatives by the United Nations to advance the rights of people of African Descent by promoting recognition, justice, and development, a high-level diaspora forum centered on ‘The Return Mission’ was held in Accra to advocate the reconnection of Africans in the diaspora.

Vice-President of Ghana, His Excellency, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, speaking at the forum noted that every person of African descent – Afro-descendants has a story with regards to racism, xenophobia, slavery, and colonialism, only they can tell.

According to him, despite developments and civilization all over the world, persons of African descent still struggle to find a sense of belonging as racism, and xenophobia among others increases.

“These deep-seated biases still prevail in the world we live. With Afro-descendants struggling to find a sense of belonging in the land where they were born but which rejects them at every turn,” he bemoaned.

He appealed that Afro-descendants should not be “sidelined in discussions on the advancement on the protection of rights and demand for equity,” noting that Africans and Afro-descendants just like every other person in the world deserve protection and fairness.

He further applauded persons of African descent who happen to face yet resist all forms of racial discrimination from all angles and walks of life.

“Join me, while I salute every single Afro-descendant who bravely challenged the order of the day by continuing to resist all forms of racial discrimination,” Dr. Bawumia said.

The forum was graced by various dignitaries including the Vice-President of Costa Rica, Her Excellency Epsy Campbell Barr, and the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr. Natalia Kanem.

The forum which was held in Ghana’s capital precedes this year’s International Day for People of African Descent which will be observed on August 31, 2022.

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African Leaders Congratulate Macron On Election Win

African leaders are congratulating French President Emmanuel Macron on his re-election after a convincing victory over rival Marine Le Pen.

Mr Macron is the first sitting French president in 20 years to be re-elected.

Senegal’s President Mackey Sal, the current African Union chairman, sent his best wishes for Mr Macron’s re-election

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abbey Ahmed said he looked forward to working with Mr Macron to strengthen ties between the two countries.

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda hailed Mr Macron’s leadership that “seeks to unite and not divide”.

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