Category: General

Tunisian academician and translator Samia Kassab-Cherfi is the winner of the 16th Ibn Khaldoun-Senghor Translation Award for her translation of the novel "Barg Ellil" by Béchir Khraïef, published by Sud Editions (Tunisia, 2023). The official award ceremony was held on December 15, 2023 at the headquarters of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), in partnership with the International Organization of la Francophonie (OIF). The award was presented by OIF Representative for North Africa Haoua Acyl and ALECSO Director of the Department of Science and Scientific Research Mohamed Sanad Abu Darwish. The members of the jury, headed this year by Bassam Baraké (Lebanon), commended the extensive documentary work carried out by the translator "to meet the challenges of this historical reconstruction that author Béchir Khraïef has sought to offer his readers, whether in terms of toponyms, the numerous intertextual references, the terminology related to armaments and armoury, music and alchemy," adding that Kassab-Cherfi's translation could rightly be described as a "consecration of the Tunisian literary universe." The jury, headed by Secretay General of the Union of Arab Translators (Lebanon) Bassam Baraké, was made up of Professor of Philosophy at Mohamed V University in Rabat, translator, essayist and literary critic Abdesslam Benabdelali (Morocco), Professor of French Literature and translator Zahida Darwiche-Jabbour (Lebanon), professor emeritus at the Ecole supérieure de traducteurs et interprètes (France), philosopher, translator and writer Mohammed Mahjoub (Tunisia) and translator and professor of French literature at Paris-Sorbonne University in Abu Dhabi Hana Subhi (France and Iraq). Created in 2007, the Ibn Khaldoun - Léopold Sédar Senghor Award is the fruit of cooperation between the OIF and ALECSO. The Award is designed to encourage translators of studies and research works in the fields of literature and social and human sciences in the Arab and French-speaking worlds, and to promote mutual enrichment between Arab and Francophone cultures.Its aim is to promote cultural and linguistic diversity and encourage all forms of cultural exchange between the Arab world and the French-speaking world. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) has revealed that in 2022, shippers importing cargoes to the country paid an estimated amount of USD$24 million to shipping lines in demurrage. Mr Charles Asiedu Sey, the Tema Branch Manager of the GSA, disclosed this at a day's seminar on demurrage, organised by the Authority for Shippers. Mr Sey indicated that the figure showed an increase over the US$19 million paid in demurrage in 2021. He, however, said that prior to the increase in 2021, the amount paid saw a decline from US$76 million in 2017 to US$27 million in 2019, and a further decline to US$19 million in 2021. He attributed the increase in demurrage paid in 2021 and 2022 to the exchange rate differentials between the Ghanaian cedi and the US dollar in the third and fourth quarters of 2022, which he noted resulted in significant increases in import duties and taxes at the ports. He said demurrage and rents were avoidable, adding that the GSA had resolved to bring the amount down by conducting such sensitizat ion programmes for shippers to avoid delays in clearance and attracting extra charges for keeping the containers beyond the free days. Mr Kwesi Saforo, a Senior Research and Monitoring Officer at the GSA, in a presentation on the effect of demurrage on the cost of doing business at the port, defined demurrage as the fee charged when an import container was still under the control of the shipping line (carrier) in the port, terminal, or depot and not unstuffed by the consignee beyond the free time allotted. Mr Saforo explained that container demurrage was applied once the free time had expired, adding that the rates vary depending on the shipping lines, indicating that in Ghana, the law gave the first seven days as free days for clearance. He said the next seven days after the free days attract a minimum of US$20.00 to a maximum of US$30.00 per day as demurrage charges, while between 15 and 21 days of the container staying at the port attract between US$30.00 and US$45.00, and other days after that would al so lead to the payment of demurrage charges between US$45.00 and US$55.00. He disclosed that 60 percent, 59 percent, 33 percent, 40 percent, and 45 percent of Ghana's containerised cargoes went on demurrage, respectively, in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022. He noted that some factors contributing to demurrage included delays in the receipt of cargo documentation, a lack of prior information on vessel arrivals, a lack of funds to clear cargo, inaccurate declaration information, non-compliance with regulatory requirements, and deliberate delay due to some ulterior motives on the part of shippers. Mr Saforo noted that from the side of the service providers, issues such as bureaucratic shipping lines, operational procedures or standards, unprofessional conduct of clearing agents, and difficulty in finding containers at terminals could also lead to demurrage payments. According to him, system issues, including downtimes, teething problems with the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), and poor feedbac k systems, coupled with bureaucratic appeals processes, all lead to delays in the clearance of containerised cargo. He stated that shippers must do their best to avoid demurrage, as it could dwindle their profits and working capital, lead to higher product costs on the market, affect the volume of imports, increase the cost of living in the country, and affect the competitiveness of Ghana's ports, as well as put a foreign exchange drain on the economy. Mr Romeo Frimpong, an Executive Member of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), and Mr. Dan Aryee, the Commercial Manager of Grimaldi Ghana Limited, provided insight into demurrage from the perspectives of freight forwarders and ship agents, respectively. Source: Ghana News Agency

The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has asked celebrities to champion road safety campaigns to influence responsible behaviour amongst road users. A statement issued by the Corporate Affairs Unit, NRSA, said celebrities could promote responsible behaviour on the roads by making brief statements in solidarity with road safety before or after their performances. 'The Authority calls on the industry players and leaders to deploy their craft and fame to support road safety advocacy efforts as road safety champions to influence positive road user behaviour among themselves and their followers.' It said the Authority had followed recent reports of road traffic crashes involving celebrated personalities in Ghana and called for responsible road user behaviour and support for national advocacy efforts. 'Last month, a rising TikTok star and rapper 2PM, also known as 'King of Bars', died in a motorcycle crash. At the same time, this week, hiplife musician Edem was reportedly charged with careless and inconsid erate driving over a traffic crash resulting in one life lost. 'These incidents serve as a cruel reminder of the demise of Ebony Reigns, Terry Bonchaka, Kwame Owusu Ansah, and Suzy Williams and many others of the entertainment industry through road traffic crashes.' The statement said the yuletide was a peak season for entertainers and cautioned entertainers, artistes' managers and showbiz personalities on the need to use the roads responsibly. 'As entertainers, your followers, admirers and fans need you alive. Use the roads responsibly and let us stay alive.' It said in Ghana, an average of 42 Road Traffic Crashes were recorded daily, resulting in six deaths daily. Nearly 40 per cent of fatalities and 32 per cent of injuries resulting from road traffic crashes are attributable to speeding. The statement said the Authority had launched the 'Stop Speeding Campaign' to raise national consciousness on observing speed limits to stay alive. It reminded motorists and entertainers of the maximum speed limits of 90kmph, 50kmph and 30kmph for highways, urban roads, and built-up areas respectively. The statement said motorists should always be alert and look out for vulnerable road users, especially children, older people, and persons with disabilities. Source: Ghana News Agency

Togbe Kwasi Nego VI, the Mepe Mankralo, has distributed truckloads of relief items to 250 households affected by the Akosombo Dam spillage at Mepe to lessen their plight. Sanitary towels, detergents, exercise books, sacks of maize, beans, gari, rice, and cartons of cooking oil were among the essentials distributed to the victims. The items, Togbe Nego said, were received from individuals and organisations and all those in his possession had been distributed to the households to minimise their plight. He pledged his continuous support to the flood victims until the situation got resolved and called on corporate Ghana to keep extending its assistance. He appealed to the Government to mobilise for funds to ignite the livelihood restoration agenda for the displaced persons. Madam Gloria Domtsor, the NADMO representative for North Tongu, received the items and expressed her gratitude to the donors for the gesture and reiterated the need for more support. Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, has paid a courtesy call on the Nyelinbulgu-Naa Yakubu Andani Dasana, Regent of Bimbilla at the Gmantambo Palace at Bimbilla in the Northern Region. The visit was to show appreciation to him for maintaining peace in the Nanung Traditional Area in the region and to solicit support from the Regent for governance as Parliament marked its 30th anniversary. Mr Bagbin commended the Regent and traditional leaders of the area for their relentless efforts in promoting peace, which had contributed to the growth of democracy. He said chieftaincy was a paramount facet in development and when combined with politics, could effect change in the system highlighting the importance of permitting chiefs to engage in active politics. He mentioned harmony as an essence of effective governance and encouraged the area to prioritise peace and dialogue at all times. Speaker Bagbin urged the traditional leaders of northern Ghana to join forces and strategically plan th e allocation of newly discovered gold deposits to corporate mining companies, emphasising its potential benefits for the region. He reiterated the need for the north to take lessons from ill-happenings at Obuasi and other mining communities to strategise for profit and environmental protection. Nyelinbulgu-Naa Yakubu Andani Dasana expressed gratitude to Speaker Bagbin for honouring the Nanung Kingdom, saying it was the first time a speaker had visited the Kingdom in Parliament's three decades of existence. He said Nanumbas would forever cherish the gesture and take pride in acting on the education given by the Speaker during the visit. He was hopeful that the next Speaker of Parliament would come from the Nanung Kingdom as a result of Mr Bagbin's visit and words of wisdom. Source: Ghana News Agency