271 subjects with 314 messages.
The AfricaNews articles of KingsleyKobo
PEOPLE: Look, Learn and Love Ghana
In the early '80s, a lot of people from West African countries used to mock at Ghana and its millions of citizens scattered across the sub-region, embarking on odd jobs to eke out a living. - They would say, “Ghana man, shoemaker, we pity for you-oh,”… “Mr Johnbull, so your spare part business just fall down like Ghana country,” etc, etc. My Nigerian in-law used to say, “Ghanaians have taken all our jobs and spoilt our name and passport. I hope we can kick out their ass from Nigerland someday.”
And truly his dreams materialised. About 1.2 million Ghanaians were deported from Nigeria in the ‘80s for their presumed involvement in economic and …Guinea: Public servants get 50% salary rise
Guinea's government on Monday announced a 50% increase in the salaries of public servants across the country. The move, according to a statement broadcast on state TV, is aimed at softening the impact of a 30 percent increase in fuel prices, and to relieve the suffering of public servants. - A government employee in Guinea earns an average salary of $67.
The statement mentioned modalities of the salary increase which will be applied systematically in the months of March and July.
During the month of March transport and rent allowances will be increased by 30 percent while pensions will also be revised upwards by 30 percent.
Guinea, a top bauxite and aluminium producer, is recoveri…PEOPLE: The failure you can`t avoid
Failure is in the process of making success. Those who avoid failure also avoid success - Robert Kiyosaki. The one thing nobody wants to hear is failure. The one thing everybody wants to hold is success. Life ushers us this cheerful desire to keep fuelling our efforts of attaining an enviable summit. - But how many of you really know that success and failure are sisters clothed in identical garment, only with differing colours and fragrance?
These two forces abide in same household and mostly step out onto the street with same rhythm of stride. They ride in tandem, calling out to clients at the same time, but with unbalanced volume of sound.
Success screams louder and lures more people…I Coast: Blaise Campaore douses the flames
After nearly two weeks without a government following the sacking of the former by President Gbagbo, a new cabinet of 28 ministers including Prime Minister Soro Guillaume was announced on Tuesday evening by government secretary Félix Tyeoulou-Dyela. The move was swift due to the mediation efforts of Burkina Faso's president Blaise Campaore. - The opposition, who condemned the president’s decision to dissolve cabinet and the electoral commission, had refused to participate in any future government unless the electoral commission was reinstated.
Gbagbo squashed the institution last two weeks because its president Mambé Beugré allegedly added some 400,000 names to the voter’s lis…Morocco: 16 killed in Mosque collapse
A mosque minaret has collapsed in Morocco, killing at least 16 people and injuring close to 40 worshippers. State news agency MAP confirmed the incident which took place in the town of Meknes, 140 km (80 miles) southwest of Rabat, but put provisional toll at 11 deaths and 50 injured. - According to a local witness quoted by Reuters, some 300 worshippers gathered inside the Lalla Khenata mosque for the Friday afternoon mass prayers. The minaret went down during the imam’s sermon.
About 80 people were reportedly trapped under the rubble. Soldiers and rescuers were working all evening to reach them.
The mosque is a four-century old building.PEOPLE: What is it money can’t buy?
"It is good, to check up once in a while and make sure you haven't lost the things money can't buy" - LORIMER. Have you ever asked yourself to know really the things money can't buy? I have, but couldn't readily find any - maybe I didn't ponder deeply enough or I was being overwhelmed by the power of money - I'm sorry! - I’ve heard that true love, peace of mind, sound sleep, sincerity, loyalty, etc, are some of the virtues that do not bow to the command of cash. But the problem is that these virtues compete fiercely with their counterfeits, confusing ordinary mortals in allocating their true identity – whether virtues, vices or in between.
I graced a gorgeous wedding ceremony …Morocco: WB doubles loans to $2.4bn
The World Bank will double loans destined for Morocco to $2.4 billion through 2013, in a bid to assist the country's efforts in reducing mass poverty and spurring growth, Reuters said on Tuesday. - Morocco’s Economic Affairs Minister Nizar Baraka told reporters in Rabat (capital) on Tuesday that his country would receive within the next three years an annual World Bank’s loan of $600 million instead of the hitherto $300 million allocation.
Baraka affirmed that the boost was a signal of Morocco’s credible development programmes and reforms.
Flanked by World Bank officials, the minister explained further how his government aimed in the next five years to improve governa…Libya bars Europeans from entering country
Libya has suspended the issuing of visas to Europeans with an exemption to British nationals. No official explanation has been given and no confirmation has come from Libyan authorities either. But Italy's foreign ministry confirmed this development in a statement issued on their website. - “Libyan authorities have confirmed the suspension of all types of visas for citizens of Schengen states. In addition, they have specified that citizens from Schengen states will be denied entry into Libya even if they are in possession of a visa, of whatever duration or type,” the statement read.
The statement further explained that Libya was retaliating Switzerland’s recent decision …Ivory Coast: President sacks government
Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo has dissolved both the unity government and the electoral commission, causing general panic in the West African country. In a radio and television message, Gbagbo said he was sacking the institutions to allow the country to move forward towards holding free and fair elections. - He asked Prime Minister Soro Guillaume, a former rebel chief, to form a new government and propose a new format by which a new electoral commission would be formed.
The president’s party FPI has been accusing the electoral commission and calling for the resignation of its president Robert Mambé Beugré for allegedly injecting 429, 000 new names on the voter’s list. B…Libya: 4,000 youths secure jobs
About 4,000 Libyan youths have obtained fulltime jobs in local and foreign companies, the country's Employment and Labour Ministry disclosed on Thursday. A monitoring committee installed by the National Youth Employment Programme had listed 23,152 job opportunities for citizen job seekers. - In a bid to fight unemployment in the North African country, the authorities in January enacted a law binding foreign companies to employ a percentage of Libyan job seekers, according to Libyan news agency Jana.
But most of these companies had breached the regulation until now, according to the Employment and Labour Ministry.
Consequently, the Libyan government embarked on a thorough control and ob…PEOPLE: Is one wife enough for a man?
What's really wrong with having more than one wife, more than one mistress or more than one girlfriend? What's really wrong with alternating between different tastes and keeping the body and soul in absolute ecstasy? What's really unpalatable when a man does this, without detriment to a neighbour or the society? - Yet, the civilized world and purist circles say it’s bad, irresponsible, promiscuous and money-wasting – but whose money, theirs or the doer’s?
They say it’s an unwholesome lifestyle capable of manufacturing and distributing venereal diseases or, breeding unwanted kids who will eventually cloud our society and jeopardize our finances and immediate securit…Renault sets up car factory in Algeria
French automobile manufacturer Renault has announced the construction of a car factory in Algeria. Renault would build the factory at Rouiba - a district on the outskirts of the capital Algiers - and would assemble the Logan and Sandero models, which are hot sales in the North African country. - In conformity with Algerian regulations, Renault is expected to have a 49 percent stake in the venture, partnering with state-owned SNVI. However, the French manufacturer would be running the site, the French newspaper, Le Monde said.
According to reports, Renault is setting up the factory to consolidate its number one position in the local car market. More than 17,000 Dacia-badged vehicles and 39…Egypt: Crack down on opposition
Egyptian authorities have arrested thirteen senior members of the Islamist opposition movement, the Muslim Brotherhood. - The organization's deputy leader, Mahmoud Ezzat, and two senior members Dr. Essam el-Erian and Abdul Rahman el-Bir are currently in detention alongside ten other lower-ranking members, arrested in raids throughout the country, according to a statement released Monday evening by the group.
A government official who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the arrests but said the men were arrested for "illegal activities."
However, a spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood said the arrests were an attempt by the authorities to thwart its preparations for elections late…Libya orders arms worth $1.8b from Russia
Libya has signed an arms deal with Russia worth $1.8 billion. Russian Information Agency, RIA Novosti, on Saturday quoted Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as saying, "Only yesterday (Friday) we signed a contract worth 1.3 billion euros ($1.8 billion) with the Libyan government, and it's not only for small arms." - The weapons Libya is intending to purchase are not specified in the statement but a military-diplomatic source quoted by Reuters says Libya has ordered some 20 fighter planes and S-300PMU2 air defence systems, according to Reuters.
The source also says that Libya may acquire T-90S tanks, and modernize more than 140 T-72 tanks and other weapons.
The deal was signed after talks wi…Burkina Faso: $40m for rural electrification
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group based in Tunisia has approved a loan of 40 million US dollars for Burkina Faso to fund rural electrification project. The ministry of mines and power said the fund will boost the country's ambition to considerably increase electricity supply to rural and urban areas, while improving quality and reliability of the service. - The demand for electricity in Burkina Faso increases by 10 per cent every year, making this project a priority for the economic and social development in the West African nation.
The ministry plans a renovation and extension of some 1,800 km of the national grid, which will improve national coverage, with the…Egypt: Police kill two black migrants
Egyptian border police shot dead two African migrants who tried to escape into Israel through the Sinai border, bringing the number of migrants killed this week to four. Police sources say they refused orders to stop. They were a 26-year-old Eritrean and a 27-year-old migrant of unknown nationality. - Another migrant from Eritrea was critically injured by police as the clandestine group attempted to reach Israel, AFP reported on Thursday.
Observers say increased violence at the border is partly due to the increasing popularity of the route, seen as safer than risking passage by sea from Libya to Europe.
Egyptian Police say they have detained another five Eritreans and three Ethiopians …PEOPLE: The fortunate and unfortunate African
If you have ever been to any international airport in Africa, you might have observed two kinds of African travellers: one holding his country's passport, and the other a foreign passport - an American, British or European Union.Both are Africans by origin, but do not possess the same power and status. - The first is African because he was born in Africa, of African parents and has been rooted in Africa. The second was probably born abroad or shares a parent who owns a foreign nationality, or acquired a foreign nationality by his long stay abroad.
The first needs to book an appointment at the embassy; needs to answer a lot of questions from the consul; and needs to furnish tons of documen…Britain to return stolen £43m to Nigeria
The British government says it will return the sum of 43 million pounds siphoned by corrupt Nigerian government officials into foreign accounts. The West African liaison officer of the Serious Organised Crime Agency, Michael Dockree revealed this in Abuja, Nigeria's capital, over the weekend. - He said the British government was committed to repatriating all funds stashed away illegally by Nigerian officials in foreign accounts.
Dockree stressed the British government's commitment to assist Nigerian security agencies and anti-corruption commissions to combat organised crimes, according to Nigerian daily, Punch.
The high-level methods used by some corrupt Nigerian politicians in transf…Tunisia, most electrified country in Africa
Tunisia has become the most electrified country in Africa according to a recent report on "Powering Africa" published by African Business. Tunisia which is credited with an electrification rate of 99% comes ahead of Algeria, 98%, Egypt 98%, Libya 97%, Mauritius 94%, Morocco 85% and South Africa 70%. - The report which was released in January 2010 issue of the magazine, ranks Tunisia as the country with the highest electrification rate on the continent, including North Africa and Sub Saharan Africa.
The report said Africa’s relatively slow development is mostly due to its severe lack of sufficient power: “The correlation power sufficiency and economic development is unmistakabl…Niger: 2.7m face hunger
About 2.7 million people in Niger currently face hunger because of inadequate rain for their crops, an official from the largely arid West African nation said over the weekend. - “About 20 percent of the population is in a vulnerable situation, or 2.7 million people,” said Hamani Harouna, a government official.
To avoid famine, the authorities plan to distribute free food to the most vulnerable and to sell cereal cheaply, Harouna said.
Last October, Niger Association for the Defence of Human Rights (ANDH) released a statement warning of a food shortage threat that might affect 2.6 million people.
But the government had accused the ANDH for quoting false figures and that…AFCON Final: Nigerians tip Ghana
Many Nigerians have been bitter after their side lost to Ghana 1:0 in the semi-finals, yet they still look ahead for a beautiful encounter on Sunday. - Across the streets of Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, men and women are pouring praises on the Black Stars or Black Starlet, if you want. Firstly, because they are young players and have been able to come this far in the tournament. Secondly, they’re giving a great lesson to Nigerians and other African nations that it’s sometime better to use players who play together than important professionals to assemble only few days to a competition.
Ade Yinka is a 36-year-old trader in Oshodi, Lagos, who believes Ghana will lift the cup …Mali: Coach Stephen Keshi sacked
It is now official that the Mali Football Federation has terminated the contract of national team Coach Stephen Keshi, state radio/television group RTM reported on Thursday. - The Nigerian-born Keshi becomes the first coaching victim of the ongoing African Nations Cup after his side failed to proceed past the group stage.
"The federation acknowledges the end of the technical staff's contracts and has no immediate intention to make any renewal," the statement said. Keshi's contract runs out at the end of the month.
Mali were also eliminated early last year in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, despite being considered credible favourites to qualify and reach South Africa.
Keshi, a former…PEOPLE: Do you have faith in condoms?
When we were gullible teenagers our elders counselled us against sex and promiscuity. When we became young adults, the society showed us how sweet sex was and its bitter side, but that we could guard ourselves from trouble by slipping on a certain armour each time we were tempted by the irresistible. - That armour was simply condom! Use it and stay alive; ignore it and face calamities – such as HIV/Aids, gonorrhoea, syphilis, unwanted pregnancies, etc.
There was no more fear talking to a girl and taking her to bed, for the seeds of trouble got safely drained into a tight little plastic destined for the water closet, only few minutes after the sweating.
Young girls and boys now ha…Nigeria: Naval helicopter crashes
A Nigerian naval helicopter crashed on Tuesday evening killing all four people on board. A naval spokesman Commodore David Nabaida confirmed the crash, adding that it took place in the troubled Niger Delta region of that country, but said he was far from being sure it was perpetrated by terrorists. - According to News Agency of Nigeria, the helicopter went down near Port Harcourt International Airport (south-eastern Nigeria) while searching for a ship that supposedly ran aground in the region.
Three officers and a seaman were on board. The commodore says an investigation will be conducted to uncover what caused the crash, the Associated Press said.
Militants and oil thieves have atta…Tunisia adopts computerized education
In addition to the enviable growth during last fiscal year, Tunisia's newly released annual report on the situation of children in the country revealed a remarkable improvement in the basic health and educational sectors of the North African nation. - The report, which was released by the government over the weekend, said the rate of vaccine coverage rose to reach 97% of children aged between 12 and 24 months, and that pregnancy monitoring centres received 96% of registered cases.
Hundreds of psychological aid units have been set up across the country to strengthen the psychological health of teenagers.
Services related to early education (kindergarten) have evolved to reach 30%, the r…
