ARIWO !

Ebola : Governor Fashola Babatunde Reassures Lagosians

Dear Lagosians, As you must now be aware, we are facing perhaps our biggest challenge to public health and the safety of human lives at this moment with the discovery of the Ebola virus in our state. This poses a threat to the primary purpose of our Government which is to save lives. This address has become necessary to respond to a series of text messages, e-mails and telephone calls that I have received in order to reiterate some of what you may already know, to share information about what you may not know, and to keep everybody safe. This has become, moreso, in the light of allegations that are making the rounds, either that victims are being neglected, or that a useful drug or vaccine is being rejected or that there is a shortage of funds. I wish to state very categorically that none of these is true. What is true is that we should perhaps never have been in this situation, but we are now in it. What is true is that the Ebola virus did not break out from within Nigeria, it was imported into Nigeria. What is true is that we have followed all the contacts that we know who have had primary and secondary contacts with the patient who imported the virus into our state, or with people who had contact with him.

Nigeria : L'Épidémie du virus Ebola - une Approche Pastorale

Dans l’ambiance de la crainte grandissante d’une propagation du virus Ebola à travers le Nigeria, les prêtres catholiques ont reçu ordre d’ignorer le rite traditionnel de la paix pendant la messe. Le rite de la paix, aussi connu comme signe de la paix, consiste à serrer la main des voisins ou collègues membres de la congrégation. Selon le site Catholique en ligne, le signe de la paix est destiné à la communion religieuse et à la charité mutuelle entre les membres. Dans un communiqué publié par l'archevêque catholique de Lagos, Adewale Martins, "intitulé: L'épidémie de virus Ebola - une approche pastorale, M. Martins a déclaré que le rite était facultatif. « Prenant en considération le fait que ce rite est facultatif, nous allons désormais l’ignorer, c’est-à-dire ne pas inviter les gens à offrir le signe de la paix. Lorsque vous arrivez à ce rite, ignorez-le. A noter également, que la récente circulaire de la Congrégation pour le Culte Divin et la Discipline des Sacrements va dans le même sens quand il a déclaré: "Il est tout à fait légitime d'affirmer que ce n'est pas nécessaire d'inviter "mécaniquement " à échanger le signe de paix » a-t-il dit . L'archevêque a invité les prêtres à maintenir la méthode de la main à la bouche lors de la distribution de la Sainte communion jusqu'à nouvel ordre. Il leur a cependant conseillé d'être attentifs et de ne pas laisser leurs mains toucher la langue des communiants. Mgr. Martins a déclaré que les écuelles d’eau bénite habituellement placées à l'entrée des églises doivent être enlevées afin de ne pas donner prise à la propagation du virus. De même a-t-il invité les prêtres à maintenir des précautions supplémentaires lors des visites aux malades à domicile et à l'hôpital, notamment veiller à laver leurs mains avec des antiseptiques et des désinfectants après le rite de l’extrême onction aux malades. L’archevêque Martins a également demandé aux prêtres d’exhorter les responsables de l’aumône à porter des gants. Binason Avèkes

Ghana in state of anger — JJ

Former President Jerry John Rawlings has observed that the nation is in a state of anger as a result of corrupt practices engulfing the country. That, he noted, had come about because of the curtailment of the principles and ideals of the June 4, 1979 uprising that instilled integrity, probity and accountability in the body politic of the country by successive governments. “I wish we continued the programme of June 4, since there is a rage of anger, but that is not where we are now,’’ the former President lamented. Former President Rawlings made the observation at a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the Revolution Square to mark the 35th anniversary of the June 4 Uprising, continued

Akufo-Addo won election 2012 – Alan Kyerematen

Presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party, Mr. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen has stated posterity will show that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the party won the 8-month long Presidential Election Petition, which challenged the results of the election as declared by Dr. Afari Gyan, and should have been declared winners of the 2012 elections. In an exclusive interview with the ‘Africa Watch’ Magazine, Mr. Alan Kyerematen, in an answer to a question posed by the magazine, explained that it was a good starting point for the party to go to court to challenge the 2012 election results, rather than resorting to other means to register their protest at the results. According to him, “It was a test of our party’s commitment to the core principles of democratic governance, our belief in the rule of law, our belief in the sanctity of the Constitution of Ghana and the basic tenants of our jurisprudence in protecting the rights of individuals, ensuring accountability of the institutions of state, as well as checking the abuse of political power by the government.” “Although the Supreme Court did not rule in our favour, there is absolutely no doubt that we made a strong and compelling case, and I believe that posterity will be the final arbiter of the validity or otherwise of our judicial claims. Indeed, the fact that the Supreme Court was split almost right down the middle in its ruling, clearly attests to the fact that we did not embark on a frivolous and vexatious exercise either on substance of law or evidence. In this regard, the combined efforts of the NPP legal team and the lead witness, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, must be highly commended,” Alan Kyeremanten told the Africawatch Magazine. Alan Kyerematen, went on further, to commend Nana Akufo-Addo for accepting the verdict of the Supreme Court Case and not seeking a review of the verdict…. continued

Experts warn over Nigerian 'viagra' drinks

Lagos - Nike Ajibade and three of her colleagues sit on a Lagos pavement with small plastic bottles of liquids tucked inside weather-beaten plastic buckets. The hidden bottles of so-called 'viagra' drinks sell for about $2 and are much sought-after for their supposed aphrodisiac qualities. But medical professionals warn that rather than enhancing sexual prowess, regular users could be putting their long-term health at risk. "Sales are high because of good patronage," Ajibade, 27, told AFP. "Most of my customers are manual labourers who need to boost their energy in bed after a hard day's job under mostly inclement weather." Hundreds of hawkers ply the bustling streets of Lagos and other Nigerian towns and cities selling such "viagra" drinks, despite their unknown and untested effects on the male sex drive. "They are creating health problems for themselves," warned the dean of the University of Lagos' faculty of pharmacy, Olukemi Odukoya. "Unknown to them, some of these liquids have chemical substances which can cause liver or kidney problems, which are very expensive and difficult to manage." A promise of sexual potency Viagra, taken to treat erectile dysfunction, costs between $5 and $11 per little blue pill in Nigeria - way beyond the means of most people who live on just $2 a day. As a result, that creates a ready market for cheaper, apparent alternatives. Besides the locally produced $2 bottles, others are imported, including so-called Alomo bitters which come from Ghana. The Ghanian liquid is a blend of rich medicinal herbs and roots that are believed to cure back pains and piles but are considered an aphrodisiac in Nigeria. Bootleg versions of the drink - with 42% alcoholic content - are available in the local market for about $4 for a 750 millilitre bottle. Such drinks - all with names promising a nirvana of sexual potency -- flood the Nigerian market every day, mostly via the country's porous borders and seaports or past officials who turn a blind eye. "I feel high and alright each time I have sex after consuming 'koboko' [horse whip] or 'kondo' [baton] drinks and my partner gives me a feeling of satisfaction," said one young motor mechanic after buying a bottle. Similar "aphrodisiac" drinks are found in other West African countries such as Togo and Benin under names such "XXL", "Rox" and "Atomic", finding a ready market of young male consumers. There is no official control and medical warnings against their consumption are regularly ignored. Unknown health risks A senior lecturer in clinical pharmacy studies at the University of Lagos, Aderemi Williams, said no known scientific studies have been carried out on the drinks. continued

Pollution detector designed to protect heritage sites

A simple detector could help conservators at World Heritage sites in the developing world understand and protect against atmospheric pollutants that can damage valuable artefacts. The pollutant-measuring device has been prototyped by Henoc Agbota, an engineer at University College London, United Kingdom, and presented last week (30 October) at a conference marking the end of a five-year funding programme for heritage science run from the university. Agbota’s work was prompted by last year's decision by UNESCO (the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) that its World Heritage Committee would begin asking their certified sites to provide yearly figures for atmospheric pollutant levels. In response, Agbota surveyed 25 correct developing world sites and found that few had the capacity to do this. At the Royal Palaces of Abomey, the historical seat of the rulers of the Kingdom of Dahomey in modern-day Benin, conservators care for artefacts such as stone bas-reliefs, wooden thrones and metal weapons. Urbain Hadonou, one of the conservators, tells SciDev.Net that he runs a project called museum school through which local cultural researchers come to study the artefacts. But such projects could be at risk unless artefacts are protected from harmful pollution.

Almost three-quarters of the respondents to Agbota’s survey reported observing damage to objects that they attributed to pollution. This took the form of particle deposits, corrosion and the formation of ‘black crusts’ on artefacts. Agbota hopes his device will help to avoid this damage. His instrument consists of a series of so called piezoelectric quartz crystals — which generate electric currents as they expand or contact by minute amounts — coated with varying thicknesses of copper, iron, nickel or tin. As pollutants absorb to these metallic surfaces, they change the crystals’ mass, altering the electrical output and allowing pollution levels to be calculated.  continued

Authority Stealing: Anti-corruption War in Nigeria

Authority Stealing: Anti-corruption War and Democratic Politics in Post-military Nigeria

 

Although Adebanwi’s book ranges broadly across recent Nigerian history, its central purpose is to assess postcolonial Nigeria’s most serious campaign to eradicate large-scale corruption. In 2003, President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed Nuhu Ribadu as chair of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, a position he would retain until 2008, when Obasanjo’s successor, Umaru Yar’Adua, removed him. During his tenure, Ribadu became a hero to many Nigerians for transforming the commission into a relatively effective anticorruption vehicle, indicting hundreds of prominent Nigerians for various economic crimes. In 2009, following several attempts on his life amid fierce counterattacks by many of the powerful people he had taken on, Ribadu left the country. Although the book meanders a bit and could have been improved by some aggressive editing, it tells an engaging story, full of striking details about the numerous cases that marked Ribadu’s tenure. Readers will be rewarded with a thorough education in the personalities, practices, and political culture that allow billions of dollars of Nigerian state revenues to disappear every year. continued

Cités du Golfe du Bénin 2 : Accra

Centre-ville d'Accra, quartier des affaires Vue d'Accra Central L'Arc d'Indépendance Accra est la capitale du Ghana. Il s'agit de la ville la plus peuplée du pays (1 658 937 habitants en 2000 1, 2 263 785 en 2009 2) dont elle constitue le centre politique, administratif, économique et financier. Le site d'Accra se trouve en territoire Ga, une ethnie encore aujourd'hui dominante dans la Région du Grand Accra. Le site s'est développé à partir des forts qui ont été bâtis par les Européens pour la traite négrière (Britanniques, Néerlandais et Danois) au XVIIe siècle. Le premier fut Fort Christiansborg, ou Fort Osu, construit par le marchand néerlandais Henry Caerlof en 1652 avec la permission du roi d'Accra, son partenaire en affaires. En 1660, le contrôle est passé à la Compagnie néerlandaise des Indes occidentales puis au Danemark, au service duquel, en 1657, Henry Caerlof s'était placé. En 1877, Accra remplace Cape Coast comme capitale de la colonie britannique de Côte-de-l'Or. Elle devient un centre économique avec la construction d'une voie ferrée vers l'arrière-pays minier et agricole. Elle demeure la capitale lorsque le Ghana accède à l'indépendance, le 6 mars 1957. En 1958, la Conférence panafricaine des Peuples, réunissant l'Afrique subsaharienne ainsi que le Maghreb et l'Égypte, se réunit à Accra et décida de soutenir les mouvements d'indépendance en Afrique. La commission de la Défense de l'Organisation de l'unité africaine est basée à Accra depuis. source

Aflao Police begin investigation into seized fake dollars

The Aflao Police is investigating a 26-year-old Ghanaian driver who was caught with fake 100 dollar notes. Emmanuel Daizey was apprehended by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority at the Dabala check point last Friday with the fake dollars concealed in a bag. The Aflao Divisional Police Commander; Chief Superintendant Emmanuel Odonkor tells Citi News the suspect will be arraigned before the court after forensic analysis on the dollar bills. “He is being interrogated and we will pass on the alleged fake currency to the CIA headquarters for forensic analysis. At the end of the forensic analysis, we will then be able to say whether we are prosecuting him or otherwise,” he stated. “When we counted it, it was $487,200 all of which were in 100 dollar bills,” he added. The Aflao Sector Commander of the Customs Division of the GRA Mr Ben Berkley, stated that the Nigerian-registered BMW saloon car,

AGL 178 AZ, at around 0840 hours, pulled up at the checkpoint and during normal routine checks personnel found three parcels in a bag. According to him, when the parcels were opened, they discovered the currency notes, when the authenticity of the dollar was checked at the Aflao branch of ECOBANK they were found to be fake. According to the driver, the bag in which the currency notes were found was given to him by someone in continued

Ghana Christian Council Appeals for Calm

The Christian Council of Ghana has called on supporters of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to remain calm as the party prepares to legally challenge the outcome of last Friday’s presidential vote. “The court clearly provides for procedure for settling disputes during the election, so we don’t see the point in anybody getting agitated, when the courts are clearly prepared to hear their case,” said Reverend Fred Deegbe, general secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana. He said supporters of both the ruling National Democratic

Congress (NDC) and the NPP should eschew acts or rhetoric that could create tension and possible violence. Partisans of the NPP demonstrated in Accra to protest their displeasure of the final result of the presidential vote. The protests, some eye witnesses say, sometimes turned violent. continued