Category: General

Security issues are at heart of the electoral programme of candidates Sihem Boughanmi and Sanad Nasfi for El Hadika constituency (Bardo). There is need to step up security patrols around schools and to combat all forms of crime, both candidatess told TAP. Boughanmi promised to address environmental issues such as waste, rehabilitate the entertainment park adjoining the municipality and improve lighting in the area. The candidate further undertook to spare no effort, in collaboration with the health authorities, to renovate the local health facility and provide it with the necessary medical equipment and specialities. For her part, Nasfi said that she will focus on environment and stepping up security campaigns so as to put an end to robberies, which are quite common in the region. Nasfi also undertook to provide support for unemployed young people to start up small projects and to bring administrative services closer to the local population. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Candidate Aziz Hanich running for the local council elections from the Séjoumi delegation, Cité Hlel constituency (Tunis 1), said that he will do everything possible to meet locals' main demands. He promised to launch small projects for the unemployed and poor families as well as establish spaces and clubs destined to young people. A 54-year-old trader, the candidate told TAP, on Thursday, that he will work, as part of his electoral campaign, to free the inhabitants of Cité Hlel from exclusion and marginalization, achieve social justice and promote public services in the region. The candidate for this constituency used propaganda posters and made direct contact with residents to publicize his programme. He also spoke on a radio station as part of his electoral campaign. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

WINDHOEK: The Namibian Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) showed significant growth in the third quarter of 2023, recording a strong gain of 7.2 per cent, according to the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA). The expansion represents a substantial increase from the 5.4 per cent recorded during the same period last year. Statistician General and NSA Chief Executive Officer, Alex Shimuafeni, said the economy witnessed a commendable trend, characterised by 10 consecutive quarters of positive growth. In nominal terms, he said the GDP reached N.dollars 59.7 billion during the third quarter, an increase from the N.dollars 52.9 billion recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2022. 'The commendable performance in the third quarter of 2023 was primarily propelled by the primary industries, which experienced a substantial expansion of 38.3 per cent. 'Notably, this growth was spearheaded by the mining and quarrying sector, which demonstrated an impressive 51.7 per cent increase, alongside the agriculture and forestry se ctor, which exhibited a commendable 19.9 per cent expansion. 'These positive developments can be attributed to enhanced oil and gas exploration activities, coupled with increased momentum in livestock marketing,' Shimuafeni said in a statement on Thursday. He added that the tertiary industries demonstrated a growth of 2.2 per cent during the quarter, with noteworthy contributions from key sectors such as wholesale and retail, transport, hotels and restaurants, and financial services. These sectors, according to Shimuafeni, exhibited robust expansions in real value added, with growth rates of 6.1 per cent, 8.8 per cent, 6.4 per cent, and 3.7 per cent. On the contrary, secondary industries encountered challenges during the third quarter of 2023, as both manufacturing and construction experienced contractions of 8.7 per cent and 30.6 per cent, he said. The NSA observed that the downturn in the manufacturing sector can be attributed to declines in specific subsectors, namely basic non-furious metal (-74.4 pe r cent), diamond processing (-29.8 per cent), and beverages (-24.9 per cent). Source: The Namibia Press Agency

An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced a driver to four years imprisonment in hard labour for stealing a Nissan Versa valued at GHc70,000.00. Samuel Asamoah was also found culpable for stealing a cheque with the face value of GHC50,000.00 though he denied the offence. The Court presided over by Mrs Kizita Naa Kowa Quarshie sentenced Asamoah to three years imprisonment for stealing the vehicle and four years imprisonment for the theft of the money. Sentences are to run concurrently. Inspector Dacosta Bobie Ansah, giving the facts said Ali Khadra, the complainant is a salesman working with Star Food Company limited at Spintex whilst Asamoah, now convict, is a driver residing at Martey Tsuru, Accra. He said on November 21, 2023, the complainant engaged the services of the convict as his personal driver. Three days into his engagement, the convict went to the househelp of the complainant at about 0630 hours and collected the keys of a Nissan Versa car with registration number GB7128-22, belonging to the compl ainant under the pretext of going to wash it outside the house. Inspector Ansah said Asamoah, who had the intention to dishonestly appropriate the vehicle, drove it to a secret place at Asamankese in the Eastern Region. He also stole the complainant's signed Fidelity cheque leaflet with a face value of GHC50,000.00 and deposited it into his Stanbic Bank Account, the Court heard. The prosecution told the Court that the cheque however could not be cleared because the complainant reported the theft to his bankers. Inspector Ansah said after all efforts made to trace the convict proved futile, a report was made to Manet police and an investigation commenced. As part of the investigation, all station messages were relayed for the arrest of him, the prosecution said. Inspector Ansah said on November 27, 2023, the Manet Police received information from the Asamankese Police that Asamoah was in their custody on another matter. He was immediately handed over together with the vehicle to the Manet police to assis t in investigations, the Court heard. He said Asamoah admitted the offence in his cautioned statement to the Police and after investigation, he was arraigned. Source: Ghana News Agency

Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani chaired a Cabinet meeting at the Government Palace in the Kasbah on Thursday, during which several economic draft laws and decrees were approved, according to a statement from the Prime Ministry. Draft laws: - Bill for the promulgation of the State Property Code - Law on combating doping in sport - Law approving the exchange of memoranda amending the Protocol of Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Tunisia and the Government of the Republic of Italy, dated November 25, 2011, on the provision of a credit line for small and medium-sized enterprises. Draft Decrees: - Draft decree supplementing decree no. 2007-1885 of 23 July 2007 on the administrative and financial organisation of the National School of Administration - Draft decree amending and supplementing decree no. 93-982 of 3 May 1993, laying down the general framework for relations between the administration and its users. - Draft decree laying down the conditions for implementing the additional deductio n of renewal costs provided for in Article 27 of Decree-Law No 2022-79 of December 22, 2022, relating to the Finance Law for 2023. - Draft decree setting up a unit of management by objectives of the Upper Medjerda protection project (zone U1+M) and zone U2 between the Algerian border and the Sidi Salem dam, and defining its organisation and operating procedures. - Draft decree creating a unit of management by objectives for the implementation of the Raghay dam project and specifying its organisation and operational modalities. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse