The appeal by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana to the African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security and his team to redouble their efforts in finding lasting solution to the ongoing war in Sudan is one of the trending stories in the Ghanaian press on Tuesday.
The Ghanaian Times reports that President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has appealed to the African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security and his team to redouble their efforts in finding lasting solution to the ongoing war in Sudan.
According to the President, there was no way the continent could talk about return to constitutionalism when violence continued to persist in parts of the continent.
“There is no way we can talk about return to constitutionalism without ending the violence that is ravaging the people of the country. I, thus, urge the commissioner for political affairs, peace and security and his team to redouble efforts to find a solution to the violence in Sudan which is generating considerable masters content and displacement,” he emphasised.
President Akufo-Addo made the appeal when he opened the Accra Reflection Forum II on Unconstitutional Changes of Government (UCG) in Africa in Accra yesterday.
The forum, which is a sequel to the Accra Forum I, was on theme: “Robust Response, Deepening Deomcracy, Sustainable Security”, and was attended by policy makers, think tanks, civil society organisations, and bilateral institutions.
In addition to finding lasting solution to the conflict in Sudan, President Akufo-Addo said urgent attention must be paid to the threat of breakaway from ECOWAS by some countries.
“The imminent threat to West Africa’s longstanding integration experience, the intellect nature of our security in all its dimensions means we need all hands on deck,” he said.
He said the continent could not afford disunity in the face of a common threat, as such all the relevant institutions must work to end the situation.
President Akufo-Addo said the Accra declaration expressed effectively the continent’s commitment to address comprehensively the underlying drivers of unconstitutional changes of government’s, particularly the aspects of governance deficits and the manipulation of democratic processes.
These drivers, he said, included tampering with electoral laws, constitutional provisions and term limits with the goal of benefitting at the expense of democratic norms and principles.
The newspaper says that the petroleum sector in Africa is experiencing significant growth, driven by various factors such as demographic shifts, infrastructural development, regulatory reforms, and technological advancements, Kwabena Appiah, Industry expert, has said.
This growth, he said, was particularly evident in the context of rapid population growth, urbanisation, and economic expansion across the continent, which are driving up the demand for petroleum products.
Speaking in an interview in Accra yesterday, he said, “While this trend presents both opportunities and challenges for stakeholders in the industry, it is especially pronounced in countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and Ethiopia, where governments are investing in infrastructure to meet the rising demand.”
To address the challenges and capitalise on the opportunities in the petroleum downstream sector, he said governments, industry stakeholders, and global partners need to collaborate and innovate.
Mr Appiah said, “There is a growing need for platforms that facilitate dialogue and provide solutions to position Africa as a global leader in the industry while advancing broader economic and social objectives.”
“In Ghana, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) organises the Ghana International Petroleum Conference (GHIPCON) as a platform for stakeholders to engage, innovate, and collaborate. This conference brings together industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders from across Africa to discuss key issues, showcase cutting-edge technologies, and explore investment opportunities that drive sectorial growth, “ he said.
GHIPCON, he said, served as a catalyst for promoting Africa as an attractive destination for petroleum investment by showcasing investment opportunities, fostering collaboration, and facilitating skills development within the downstream sector.
Through various sessions, exhibitions, and workshops, he said, the conference enhances the capabilities of professionals and encourages networking and collaboration among industry players.
“In addition, GHIPCON sparks innovation and thought leadership by providing a forum to discuss emerging trends, technological advancements, and regulatory developments in the petroleum downstream sector. By fostering dialogue and collaboration, the conference plays a crucial role in enhancing the sector’s competitiveness, attracting investment, and ensuring sustainable practices,” he said.
The Graphic reports that the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva has said it is time for developing countries such as Ghana to take advantage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for mutual benefit.
She was speaking at an AI summit focused on unraveling AI’s challenges and opportunities in developing countries, themed, “AI as a Catalyst to Transform Economies in Sub-Saharan Africa.”
The summit featured a panel discussion exploring AI’s implications for emerging economies, particularly Ghana’s digitalisation and AI readiness, aiming to strategise for positive outcomes amidst the 4th industrial revolution.
Ms Georgieva emphasized the need to harness AI’s potential while mitigating inequalities, misinformation, and other negative impacts.
She highlighted AI’s capacity to boost productivity by 3-5% and stressed the importance of preventing its misuse.
“We can see three, four, five percent productivity gained if we go forward with artificial intelligence effectively. We definitely need something that will inject more dynamism in the world economy. Second, we also need to recognise that the skilled impact of artificial intelligence is gigantic. We have to think how we can make the best out of it, prevent artificial intelligence instead of source of good to turn into a source of inequality, misinformation deepfakes, distortion in our lives”, she stated.
The newspaper says that in a surge reflective of its robust financial standing, MTN Ghana (MTNGH) witnessed a 3.3% increase in its share price, reaching a new all-time high of GH¢1.55 at the close of trading today (March 18, 2024).
This uptick from GH¢1.50 to GH¢1.55 follows the momentum gained since the announcement of MTN Ghana’s stellar performance in its audited 2023 Financial Report released on February 28, 2024.
Listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) since September 3rd, 2018, MTN Ghana, trading under the ticker symbol “MTNGH”, has significantly contributed to the equity market’s dynamism. Its IPO price in 2018 was GH¢0.75 per share. With an impressive market capitalization of GHS 19.9 billion, MTN Ghana now holds the title of the most valuable stock on the GSE, constituting approximately 26% of the exchange’s total equity market.
Investors continue to show keen interest in MTN Ghana, recognizing its consistent growth trajectory and strong financial fundamentals.
GIK/APA