Author: Amnewsworld

Somalia’s government has asked the International Monetary Fund, IMF, to extend its financial support by three months to August 17th. In February the IMF warned that Somalia’s delayed legislative and presidential elections risked the renewal of the three-year budget support program worth nearly $400 million. Presidential elections have now been set for May 15th. IMF’s mission head, Laura Jaramillo, acknowledged the request but did not clarify whether the automatic expiration of the program will be extended. The conclusion of negotiations for renewal of the program is also a required part of a deal to slash Somalia’s debt from more than…

Africa is witnessing a surge in outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases over the past year. Almost 17 500 cases of measles were recorded in the African region between January and March 2022, marking a 400% increase compared with the same period in 2021. Twenty African countries reported measles outbreaks in the first quarter of this year, eight more than that in the first three months of 2021. Outbreaks of other vaccine-preventable diseases have also become more common. Twenty-four countries confirmed outbreaks of a variant of polio in 2021, which is four more than in 2020. In 2021, 13 countries reported new…

Somalia’s parliament elected a veteran politician as speaker of the lower house in a drawn-out process that concluded in the early hours on Thursday, as the fragile nation edges closer to holding a delayed presidential vote. The election is more than a year behind schedule, with the process marred by deadly violence and a power struggle between the current president and the prime minister. Following the election of the upper house speaker on Tuesday, lawmakers in the lower house chose Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur, better known as Sheikh Adan Madobe, as speaker in a process that extended into two rounds…

A three-day ministerial conference in Cameroon, which ended Wednesday, saw the UNHCR and seven central African states vow to come up with additional solutions for those who’ve fled their homes because of crises. Will Central Africans displaced soon get more support? This is what a new declaration plans. A three-day ministerial conference in Yaoundé, which ended Wednesday, saw the UNHCR and seven central African states (Cameroon, The Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, The Congo, Sudan and South Sudan) vow to come up with additional solutions for those who’ve fled their homes because of Central African crises. The new regional coordination mechanism plans…

Senegal will further support low-income families hit by the tough socio-economic situation. The government announced it would back more than 540,000 poor households. The government spokesman, Oumar Guèye, said on Thursday all was done to avoid an explosion in prices of essential staples and other products. If the government has sett up a price support scheme for wheat and abandoned some of the import taxes, many Senegalese were still forced to shrink their grocery bills. “I used to buy five liters of oil at a maximum of 18,000 CFA francs, but now they cost nearly 27,000 CFA francs, Malick Dione, a…

Ghanaian artists, Shatta Wale and Wiyaala have been confirmed for this year’s edition of SummerStage festival – New York City’s beloved outdoor performing arts festival, bringing nearly 90 free and benefit shows to Central Park and 12 neighborhood parks across the five boroughs. Returning with a full season of shows this year, SummerStage will celebrate New York’s revival and the festival’s return to 12 local community parks across the city celebrating culture at a time when neighborhood parks have never been more crucial to the city’s well being. The season will once again showcase established and emerging artists, presenting distinctly New York…

A US state department report has said some Ghanaian judges took bribes to render cases in favor of the bribe payer. According to the report, some judges also deliberately lose dockets or delay cases after they have been induced. “While the constitution and law provide for an independent judiciary, the judiciary was subject to unlawful influence and corruption. “Judicial officials reportedly accepted bribes to expedite or postpone cases, ‘lose’ records, or issue favorable rulings for the payer of the bribe”, the report said. It further noted: “A judicial complaints unit within the Ministry of Justice headed by a retired Supreme…

A regional survey by the Global Info Analytic has stated Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia will lose in his home region of North East if elections were conducted today. The new poll dated 27th April 2022 seen by Amnewsworld had former President John Mahama beating the sitting Vice President Bawumia by 18% in his own backyard. “In what could be a massive win for John Mahama in 2024 election as the polls shows him leading Dr. Bawumia by 53% to 30%, the same show John Mahama losing the Northern region by 9% to Dr Bawumia 43% to 53%. In also a dramatic…

The Chief of Staff Akosua Frema Osei-Opare has directed that the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) commences from 1st April 2022 a 30% deductions of salaries from all government appointees. A letter from the Presidency dated 19th April 2022 sported indicates that the directive was issued by Cabinet at its first Special Meeting of the year held on Monday 21st March 2022. “The Controller and Accountant General Department and the Chief Executives of State Owned Agencies (SOEs) are directed to deduct at source 30 per cent of the salaries of ministers of states (including Deputy Minsters), District Chief Executives…

The Police have announced they investigating a case of a Police officer shooting himself to death while on duty in Accra Wednesday. The circumstances surrounding the death which occurred today are unknown. The Police in a statement said they are keeping the identity of the officer hidden until his family is informed. AMN/Media Report/Accra.