Africa relies too heavily on foreign aid – Envoy
The Ghanaian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Alhaji Rashid Bawa, says Africa has not experienced the desired growth because of its heavy reliance on foreign aid for development.
Bawa spoke through his representative, the Ghanaian mission’s Charge d’Affaires, Ahmed Tijani Abubakar, yesterday at a reception to mark Ghana’s 61st independence anniversary in Abuja.
The envoy said although foreign aid was meant to accelerate postcolonial development, it had helped keep African countries as raw material export-based economies to the advantage of developed economies.
“It is against this background that the current government of Ghana under the leadership of President Nana Akufo-Addo is advocating for new growth and development narratives in term of Ghana trade and investment relations with its development partners,” he said, adding that boosting intra-African trade, which currently stands at 12%, remained the best way to achieve self-reliance.
The Liberian ambassador to Nigeria, Prof Al-Hassan Conteh, said mobilizing domestic resources for development had become imperative because Africa cannot keep relying on other countries.
Senate to reintroduce 35% Affirmative Action – Oduah
A former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah (PDP, Anambra) has said that the Senate would soon reintroduce the bill for 35 percent affirmative action for women as ministers and 20 percent for women as commissioners in states.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, she said it would be reintroduced and forwarded to the 36 state assemblies for endorsement.
The bill failed at the Senate last year when only 49 senators voted in its support, against the required 73.
Oduah who is the president, ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA), said: “The president of the senate has made that promise and all senators are in agreement, they have concurred to that. It is the right thing to do. The United Nations has made it very clear that when progress and empowerment is anchored on women, then there would be a more progressive society.”