Ghana: Press spotlights call for global collaboration to deal with piracy in Gulf of Guinea, others

The call by President Akufo-Addo for greater levels of co-operation and collaboration from stakeholders in dealing with the emerging threat of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea is one of the leading stories in the Ghanaian press on Friday.
The Ghanaian Times reports that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana has called for greater levels of co-operation and collaboration from stakeholders in dealing with the emerging threat of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
He said it was imperative that the global community fostered closer collaboration in ensuring maritime security across all oceans.
President Akufo-Addo made the call at the opening of the second African Maritime Forces Summit and third Naval Infantry Leadership Symposium Africa, in Accra on Tuesday.
This year’s symposium was under the theme, “Cooperation at Sea: Safeguarding African Maritime Security”.
President Akufo-Addo said the event provided the global commu­nities with a “unique opportunity to strengthen our partnerships, and enhance our collective capabilities through constructive dialogue, exchange of best practices, and ex­ploring innovative solutions to the maritime security challenges facing our continent.”
He recognized the Gulf of Guinea region as a key route for international trade that connects all the major continents, from the Middle East and Asia to Europe, and the Americas and the growing investments in the region, especially in offshore oil and gas infrastruc­tures.
The President said the coastal trading and maritime traffic were, therefore, bound to increase and with this growing wealth and geo-strategic relevance, the region had to cope with both traditional and emerging maritime security threats.
President Akufo-Addo said that these transnational crimes did not only threaten national and regional peace and stability, but also was at a great cost to the economies of both coastal and non-coastal states.
The US Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, emphasized the need for enhanced cooperation in ensuring maritime security and combating illegal activities in the region’s coastal waters.
She said, currently, Ghana was collaborating with the US on trade, development, law enforcement, security cooperation, among other critical issues.
The newspaper says that Manhyia Palace Museum, refurbished under the auspices of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has been re-opened to the public.
Stuffed in there are some royal artefacts looted some 150 years ago by colonial masters from the Asante Kingdom, including a ceremonial cap decorated with gold ornaments known as Mpomponsuo, a sword of state, three cast gold soul-washers’ badges, and a gold peace pipe, which were taken from the kingdom during the Anlo-Asante wars, including the infamous Sagrenti War of 1874.
Also on display are seven sections of sheet-gold ornament, one silver spoon, one pair of silver anklets and one section of sheet-gold ornament.
On display is a gold lute-harp presented by the Asantehene Osei Bonsu to British diplomat, Thomas Edward Bowdich, during a 1817 trade treaty.
Among the artefacts, 15 of them were returned by the British Museum (BM) and 17 from the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A).
Speaking at the homecoming of the looted artefacts, Otumfuo Osei Tutu indicated that the return of the items was a restoration of the Asante spirit.
“The items that came back are virtually the soul of the people of Asante. Not all of them have returned. But, what we have here embodies the soul of Asante. Today is a day for Asantes and for the Black African continent. The spirit that we bore and share is back with us,” he said.
The Graphic reports that the President of the World Bank, Ajay Banga, has described electricity as a human right, vital for accessing healthcare, education, and opportunities for innovation and productivity.
Speaking at the World Bank Group Meetings on April 17, 2024, Mr Banga emphasised that without electricity there can be no solution to poverty, growth, or development. Thus, it is portrayed as the foundation for creating jobs and capabilities in Africa.
He mentioned that 600 million people in Africa lack access to electricity, describing it as unacceptable.
Ajay Banga stressed the World Bank’s commitment to connecting 250 million Africans out of about 600 million Africans who currently do not have access to electricity to affordable energy by 2030, with the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) President, Akinwumi Adesina, pledging the bank’s commitment connect additional 50 million Africans to electricity.
He explained that this commitment involves collaborations with key stakeholders and institutions across the continent, including finance, government, and the private sector, to provide access to affordable energy to a significant portion of the population by 2030.
The newspaper says that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has charged Ghanaians not to allow their political affiliations and differences to lead them into disunity and instability but rather use them to provoke an intellectual debate on how to move the country forward.
He also advised that in spite of the differences in opinions on policies, Ghanaians, especially political actors, should always resort to established protocol to express their displeasure and grievances without disruption to peace and national security.
President Akufo-Addo made the call when he addressed the 2024 National May Day Parade at the Independence Square in Accra yesterday. The occasion, which happened to be the President’s May Day swansong, was on the theme: “Election 2024: The Role of Workers and Social Partners in Securing Peaceful Elections for National Development”.
In attendance were the Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, leaders of the Ghana Employers Association, representatives of International Labour Organisation (ILO) and members of the Diplomatic Corps.
As usual, workers from across the country were fully represented through their respective companies and unions in their branded T-shirts, with placards, some of which read, “Domestic Workers are Pillars of the Economy”, “Exempt HIV/AIDS Commodities from Taxes and Levies”, “Save Energy Today for Brighter Tomorrow”, and “Our Disabilities Don’t Define Our Work.”
President Akufo-Addo stressed that “it is in our collective interest to promote peace, security and stability ahead of the 2024 general election. Ghana is the only country we have and we must do everything in our power to defend our nation and its constitution”
He described Ghanaian workers as the backbone of the country who have special roles to play in shaping the outcome of elections and that their participation in the electoral process was essential to ensure that the concerns and aspirations of working people were adequately represented in the governance structure.
President Akufo-Addo, therefore, charged them to exercise their civic duty responsibly and cast their vote for candidates who espoused policies that promote inclusivity, equality and social justice, adding that “as social partners, it is an important part of your role to defend and uphold the ideals of the Constitution”.
GIK/APA