Category: General

WINDHOEK: South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has said South Africans are saddened by the passing of the late President Hage Geingob, alluding to the shared history of the two countries. Ramaphosa was speaking in Windhoek on Saturday while paying his respects to the late Geingob's wife, Monica Geingos, following Geingob's death on 04 February. Ramaphosa, the third African leader to visit the former first lady, expressed that Geingob was a friend and a dear brother to him, noting that his death is also a great loss to the African National Congress (ANC). 'As South Africans, we struggled with the same enemy… We feel it as well, it is always difficult to lose a sitting head of state, so our hearts are saddened as well,' he said. He indicated that Geingob taught him how to lead through the ethical principles he adhered to in all systems, processes and institutions. Ramaphosa further gave his assurance of stronger relationships between Namibia and South Africa, noting that the two countries will continue to implement all decisions taken previously. Source: Namibia Press Agency

A Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani approved a draft law and three draft social decrees at the Kasbah Palace on Saturday. According to a statement from the Prime Ministry, the meeting approved a draft law amending Law No. 2003-69 of 20 October 2003 on summer holiday and recreation centres for children. The meeting also approved a decree amending and supplementing Decree No. 2001-318 of January 23, 2001 on the childcare allowance and the conditions for its allocation, setting the rates of this allowance for medical and para-medical university hospital staff, hospital and health care staff and doctors working in public hospitals and health care structures under the Ministry of Health, as well as medical, pharmacy and dental medicine residents. The Cabinet approved Decree No. 2005-3088 establishing the conditions for receiving material assistance for needy persons with disabilities and the procedures for their placement in foster families, as well as the procedures for receiving financi al assistance for the foster family of a disabled person without assistance. The Cabinet approved a draft decree establishing a social and educational centre for the reception and integration of people with disabilities in Sfax and regulating its administrative and financial organisation and operating procedures. At the opening of the meeting, the Prime Minister stressed the spirit of initiative and effective collective work within the government team. He recalled that during his recent visit to the Kasbah Palace, the President of the Republic stressed the need to intensify work and redouble efforts in various public structures and institutions for the benefit of Tunisia, particularly in the economic and social fields, according to the statement. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

OTJIWARONGO: The Otjozondjupa Regional Council on Thursday officially opened a book of condolences for late President Hage Geingob who died in Windhoek on Sunday. The condolences book, according to the Personal Assistant to the Otjozondjupa Region Governor, Charmaine Tjizumane is to allow the general public to send messages to the bereaved family of Geingob. Tjizumane told Nampa on Thursday: 'The book belongs to the Government, and it will be placed on the ground floor of the Otjozondjupa Regional Council building where it will remain open to any member of the public who wants to send a message of condolences and a word of support to the late president's family.' Tjizumane called on the region's inhabitants to make use of the opportunity to convey their condolences before the book is sent to State House in Windhoek. Source: Namibia Press Agency The First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, has commissioned a new ultra-modern library at Akropong-Akuapem in the Eastern Region for students and pupils in the area, and emphasized the importance of library in aiding the learning of children. It is one of the 15 completed libraries so far built by her Rebecca Foundation with support from then various partners. The library project aims to inculcate the habit of reading among school pupils by providing them with the right ambiance, adequate, interesting, and relevant reading materials to enrich their knowledge. Mrs Akufo-Addo a library is not just a place that houses books, it is a place where children learn to explore and imagine a world beyond their own. In short, access to libraries promotes curiosity, innovation, and critical thinking.' According to the first lady, libraries kept children glued to their books and away from unsupervised content on gadgets, adding that research had shown that most children, who have access to libraries read more and have be tter language skills and a broader literary taste. Libraries instil desirable study habits in students. A library is truly integral to the teaching and learning processes. Pupils could carry out research and broaden their horizon beyond what is taught in the classroom, she said. She said since a library was a unique resource for a happy and healthy childhood, every child must have access to one. 'That is why the Rebecca Foundation, is focused on expanding the country's inventory of libraries. 'That is why it is also important that we encourage our children to patronize this library. We must also teach them about responsible use of the resources provided,' she said. Mrs Akufo-Addo, who is also the Executive Director of the Rebecca Foundation, thanked the Okuapemhene, Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo III and the people of Akropong-Akuapem, the NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Akuapem North Constituency, Mr Samuel Awuku and the Municipal Assembly for their tremendous support in completing the project successfully. She encouraged the traditional leaders to work with the Municipal authorities, educators and parents, to ensure the shelves of the library were re-stocked and repairs and maintenance carried out on the computers and the building regularly. She also urged the traditional leaders and elders in the area to encourage their wards to make proper use of the facility. 'I advise the children in this community and its environs to make good use of this facility since it will go a long way to help their future, 'she said. Mrs Akufo-Addo said 'Learning to Read Reading to Learn' initiative, currently being rolled out was to support the Government to achieve the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG), which aims to 'Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.' The Okuapemhene, was very grateful for the library and tasked the people of the area, especially the students, to make good use of the facility. On his part, Mr Awuku, expressed gratitude of the entire Constituency and the Region to Mrs Akufo-Addo for the many good works done through her Foundation in supporting women and children in various parts of the country. In 2018, Mrs Akufo-Addo decided to support government's agenda to provide quality accessible education to Ghanaian children through her Rebecca Foundation and under its Learning to Read, Reading to Learn Initiative, have so far built 15 libraries in school clusters across the country. The Foundation also introduced a television reading programme to encourage children to read more and apply learned concepts to their everyday lives. Source: Ghana News Agency

The Chance for Children, a humanity centered non-profit entity has begun a project to reach out to school drop outs within the New Takoradi Community. The 'street-community' approach of reaching out to street-connected children who had dropped out of school and engaged in child labour during school hours was meant to restore educational hope to these ones while enhancing their lifestyle. 'This initiative is giving these children the chance to go back to school through our school preparatory programme facilitated by our team of qualified Social Workers', Nana Osei Baafi, the Programmes Manager told the Ghana News Agency. He added that the project was a pilot project for 30 children this year in New Takoradi Lower Town and would be scaled up after assessment at the end of the year. The children, he announced, would be exposed to phonics, literacy, numeracy, creativity, and life skills. 'Each child will also enjoy one hot meal a day from Monday to Friday, and will be enrolled back to school after the 10 we eks preparatory programme, and be given educational support in the form of payment of school fees, buying of exercise books and textbooks, school uniforms and school bags'. Source: Ghana News Agency

Rabies killed six people in the Bono Region in 2023, Dr. Donald Joachim Darko, the Bono Regional Director of the Veterinary Services Department (VSD) has said. Comparatively, he said the deaths marginally declined because the Department recorded eight deaths in 2022. Rabies is a deadly virus transmitted through the saliva of infected animals and some symptoms include fever, headache, excessive salivation, muscle spasms, paralysis and mental confusion. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, Dr. Darko said the Department vaccinated 4,402 domestic animals in 2023. More than 8,171 domestic animals, including dogs were vaccinated in 2021 and about 3,606 animals in 2022, he added. Dr. Darko said the Department was working hard to achieve the World Health Organisation's target of ensuring rabies free deaths by 2030 and called for support from the general public. He said until 70 per cent of the pet and domestic animal population were vaccinated three consecutive times, it would be difficu lt for the country to achieve the WHO target. Just about six years to go, Dr. Darko called for effective collaboration between the Municipal/ District Assemblies, Ghana Health Service and the VSD towards intensifying public education as well as accessibility and affordability of vaccines to achieve the 2030 target. He also urged the public to endeavour to bring their cats, dogs and other pets for vaccination at least once a year to help prevent diseases and needless deaths. Source: Ghana News Agency