Parliament, Military Chiefs Hold Crunch Meeting on Deployment of Ghanaian Troops to Niger

 The Parliament of Ghana reportedly summoned military chiefs and heads of some security agencies in the country over President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s decision to send Ghanaian troops to Niger, as part of the ECOWAS stand-by force to remove the new military leadership of the country.

According to a report by JoyNews, the heads of the Ghana Armed Forces and other security agencies were summoned by the Defence and Interior Committee of parliament to brief them on the president’s supposed order.
Present at the meeting were the leaderships of the Ghana Armed Forces, the National Security, the Minister for Defence, the Minister for Interior, and the leadership of the Ghana Police Service, among others.

The report indicated some of the issues that were discussed border on the constitutionality of Akufo-Addo’s decision to contribute troops to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) stand-by force.
It was also said in the report that one of the main Articles of the 1992 Constitution that was discussed was Article 40.

The article states that in its dealings with other nations, the government shall:
(a) promote and protect the interests of Ghana;
(b) seek the establishment of a just and equitable international economic and social order;
(c) promote respect for international law, treaty obligations and the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means;
(d) adhere to the principles enshrined in or as the case may be, the aims and ideals of—
(i) the Charter of the United Nations;
(ii) the Charter of the Organization of African Unity;
(iii) the Commonwealth;
(iv) the Treaty of the Economic Community of West African States; and
(v) any other international organization of which Ghana is a member.

The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a member of the Defence and Interior Committee, who spoke to JoyNews after the meeting, said that the decision had been taken not to reveal details of the meeting.
He, however, indicated the meeting was successful and is one of several that would be held.

Background:
The Authority of Heads of State and Governments of the Economic Community of West Africa State (ECOWAS) ordered the deployment of a standby force to Niger.
ECOWAS leaders gave the directive to the President of the Commission at Extraordinary Session in Abuja, Nigeria on August 10, 2023.

The Extraordinary Summit was convened as a sequel to the recent one held on 30th July 2023, following what ECOWAS describes as the illegal detention of President Mohamed Bazoum by the members of the Presidential Guard of the Republic of Niger on July 26, 2023.
The communique issued by the Authority reiterates its strong condemnation of the attempted coup d’etat and the continued illegal detention of President Mohammed Bazoam, his family, and members of his government.

Meanwhile, the military juntas in Burkina Faso and Mali have said that any forcible attempt to restore President Mohamed Bazoum in neighbouring Niger will be seen as a declaration of war on them.
Many security experts have warned of disastrous consequences should the bloc go on with its decision to send troops to Niger.

Source: ghanaweb.com

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Barbie Banned From Algerian Cinemas For ‘Corrupting Morals’

 Algeria has banned the popular Barbie film three weeks after its release in the mainly Muslim North African nation.

The culture ministry has asked cinemas to withdraw the Hollywood blockbuster immediately.

The movie promoted homosexuality and did not comply with Algeria’s religious and cultural beliefs, an official source told the Reuters news agency.
Cinemas in the cities of Algiers, Oran and Constantine have been packed, according to 24H Algérie news website.

The film was officially being banned for “damaging morals”, the privately owned news website said, adding that since its release viewings had sold out every day.
There has been criticism in the Arab world about the movie’s social values, with Kuwait banning Barbie last week to protect “public ethics”.

The film, starring Hollywood A-listers Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, is a coming-of-age story based on the children’s toy, where Barbie journeys to the real world and explores her identity.
Around the time of the film’s release, director Greta Gerwig told the New York Times that it was supposed to be “funny” and that her hope for the movie was for society to “let go of the things that aren’t necessarily serving us as either women or men”.

Barbie has received a warmer welcome from leaders in other countries, such as the UK and Spain, where British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the Spanish royal family were pictured on cinema outings to see it.
Since the movie’s release it has grossed more than $1bn (£786m) worldwide.

Source: BBC

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Cameroonian fights White House over press access

 Cameroonian journalist Simon Ateba has persisted in his fight against the White House, days after filing a lawsuit challenging the cancellation of his press pass.

In recent interviews and social media posts, Mr Ateba has claimed that the White House discriminated against him due to his race, because of his tough questions and because he reports for a lesser-known news outlet.

In a lawsuit, filed last Thursday against White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and the Secret Service, Mr Ateba alleged the White House targeted him by introducing a credentialing policy to block him from renewing his White House press pass.

The rule change led to Mr Ateba and more than 400 other White House reporters losing their passes.

Under the new policy, Mr Ateba cannot obtain a White House press pass as his news outlet, Today News Africa, which he runs himself, is not considered a reputable news organisation.

Mr Ateba’s ban and subsequent lawsuit mark the culmination of a long-running feud between him, Ms Jean-Pierre, the White House press office and some White House journalists critical of Mr Ateba’s frequent interruptions.

Last month, the White House warned him that he would lose press access if he continued disrupting the briefings.

He had disrupted briefings on at least four occasions to call out Ms Jean-Pierre for repeatedly denying him opportunities to ask questions.

Source: BBC

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Catholic Church in South Africa begins class action against mining firms

The church says it filed the case after it was approached by mine workers for help.

The Catholic Church says it is shepherding a class-action lawsuit through the courts against mining companies in South Africa on behalf of coal miners with lung disease.

The Southern African Bishops Conference said on Wednesday that lawyers filed papers with South Africa’s High Court on Tuesday.

“Very often ex-mine workers are no longer members of trade unions and, therefore, lack the means and capacity to seek legal recourse from large companies which are responsible for their lung diseases,” Archbishop of Cape Town Stephen Brislin said.

“It is thus incumbent on the church to give assistance where it can, … so that they can access compensation that is legally due to them.”

The miners are represented by Richard Spoors, a lawyer who has won compensation in similar cases before.

Filed on behalf of 17 former and current mine workers, the case targets mining giant BHP, its spin-off South32 and South Africa’s Seriti, Dasantha Pillay, a lawyer with Spoors’ firm, told the Agence France-Presse news agency.

It seeks recourse for all miners who worked for these companies since 1965 and contracted lung disease as well as dependents of workers who died from coal dust-induced illness.

The firms did not immediately reply to AFP’s request for comment.

The church said it initiated and facilitated the case after it was approached by mine workers for assistance.

Coal is a bedrock of South Africa’s economy, employing almost 100,000 people and accounting for 80 percent of electricity production. The industry is concentrated in the eastern region of Mpumalanga, which environmental campaigners Greenpeace said has some of the dirtiest air in the world.

The class action accuses the companies of failing to provide their workers with adequate training, equipment and a safe working environment despite knowing the risks to coal miners.

SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES

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Kenya: Employee Allowances to Be Included in Housing Tax

 Nairobi — Employee allowances will now be included in housing tax deductions following a new directive from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). KRA yesterday directed employers to factor in staff allowances when calculating final taxes for houses.

Such allowances were not included in the 2023 draft Finance Bill for the new housing tax law. “Gross monthly salary” constitutes basic salary and regular cash allowances,” KRA said.

“This include housing, travel or commuter, car allowances and such regular cash payments and would exclude those that are non-cash as well as those not paid regularly such as leave allowance, bonus, gratuity, pension, severance pay or any other terminal dues and benefits.”

In June, the National Assembly ratified the controversial Finance Bill of 2023, which sought to introduce a three percent housing tax on employers and employees. While employees were to be deducted 1.5 percent from their salaries to fund housing programs, employers were to match the amount.

Tax on gross pay means that the taxman will net more money to actualize its ambitious housing project.

Government and private top officials who earn thousands of shillings through allowances will bear the full brunt of the new order. “All employees irrespective of their contract of service shall pay the affordable housing levy,” KRA said.

“Taxpayers paying housing levy under Section 31B of the Employment Act are not eligible for Affordable Housing Relief under the Section 30A of the Income Tax Act Cap. 470.”

By: By Kevin Rotich

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Angola, Japan sign reciprocal investment protection agreement

 Luanda - Governments of Angola and Japan sign Wednesday in Luanda an agreement for the reciprocal liberalisation, promotion and protection of investments.

In the presence of President João Lourenço and Japanese minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Nishimura Yasutoshi, the Angolan minister of Foreign Affairs Téte António and Japanese ambassador to Angola Suzuki Toru signed the deal.

The signing ceremony of the agreement was preceded by an audience that the Head of State granted to the Japanese minister, who is on a three-day visit to Angola.

The Japanese official said that the agreement follows the state visit that President João Lourenço made to Japan in March this year.

Nishimura Yasutoshi, who is accompanied by 26 businessmen from various fields, said that there was already remarkable cooperation in the areas of infrastructure, with emphasis on the port of Namibe and staff training.

He said he hoped that the agreement would actually stimulate Japanese investment in Angola, with a view to Angola's economic diversification.

Angola’s minister of Foreign Affairs Téte António said that it took about ten years of negotiations to sign the agreement for the promotion and reciprocal protection of investments.

He stated that the Angolan President's trip to Japan fostered a climate of trust among Japanese authorities and business circles. JFS/AL/TED/NIC

43rd Summit motto gets SADC Committee’s nod

 Luanda - The Standing Committee of Senior Officials of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Wednesday gave their consent to the motto of the 43rd Summit of Heads of State and Government of the regional organisation,  scheduled for August 17, 2023 in Luanda, Angola.

Summit’s spokesperson Jorge Cardoso said the motto “Human and Financial Capital: Main factors for the sustainable industrialisation of SADC” has an underlying strategy and an action plan.

Working together with the Secretariat and the Angola’s commitment, as the chair of organization, will ensure its full implementation.

He also took stock of the implementation of the motto of the previous summit (42nd), under  Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) presidency, which allowed the committee to assess the activities carried out in the region in that period.

The first session of the preparatory committee, on matters to be taken to the Council of Ministers meeting on 13-14 August, focused on the issues such as cooperation with international partners, with stress to the European Union (EU), Germany and the United States.

Jorge Cardoso also announced plans for a cooperation agreement with the US, whose meeting (SADC and US) will be held soon, under the presidency of Angola.

The event (SADC-US) will take place, in addition to the existing cooperation agreement with the EU 2021/2027.

The meeting of senior officials, which takes place behind closed doors, analyses matters related to the legal instruments of cooperation in the region, the evaluation of the implementation of the SADC restructuring process, as well as the swearing in of the new deputy executive secretary for institutional matters.

For Thursday, the programme features meeting of the SADC Finance Committee. VC/AL/CF/NIC