Here are the top stories from Africa: Ghana gears up for its 7th December elections, with a notable update that presidential ballots will be counted before parliamentary ones.
In other news, Ja Rule shares progress on his school project in Ghana, showcasing his commitment to education in the region. Looking ahead to 2025, Grammy-winning artist Tems has announced plans to tour Africa, including stops in South Africa, Nigeria, Rwanda, Kenya, and more, with dates to be revealed soon.
Meanwhile, the Women’s AFCON 2025 Morocco draw has generated excitement among fans. Lastly, Namibia recently held elections to select a new president and parliament, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s democratic journey.
GHANA PREPARES FOR 7TH DECEMBER ELECTIONS
As Ghana prepares for its December 7, 2024, general elections, nearly 18.8 million registered voters will have the opportunity to choose their next President and Members of Parliament.
The main contenders for the presidency are Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia and former President John Mahama. Current President Nana Akufo-Addo, first elected in 2016, is completing his final term.
To win outright in the first round, a candidate must secure over 50% of the votes.
To promote credibility and fairness, Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi, former President of Botswana, will head a 16-member Commonwealth observer team.
This initiative follows a formal invitation from Ghana’s Electoral Commission and was announced by Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland KC on November 21.
GHANA ELECTIONS: PRESIDENTIAL BALLOTS WILL BE COUNTED, BEFORE PARLIAMENTARY
The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced a change to the vote-counting procedure for the December 7 general elections.
To ensure a more efficient electoral process, the EC will now count presidential ballots first, followed by parliamentary ballots at all polling stations.
This shift means that the nation will receive the presidential results sooner, while also allowing time for the parliamentary results to be tabulated separately.
This adjustment is aimed at streamlining the counting process, ensuring faster and more orderly results. By prioritizing the counting of presidential votes, the EC hopes to reduce delays and disputes, leading to a quicker declaration of the presidential results.
It is a move designed to enhance the transparency and credibility of the election process, with the hope that it will foster public trust, particularly as this year’s elections are expected to be highly contested.
JA RULE SHARES PROGRESS PROGRESS OF HIS SCHOOL PROJECT IN GHANA
American rapper Ja Rule recently collaborated with the global non-profit organization Pencils of Promise (PoP) to fund the construction of a new school building in Ghana.
During that time (April 9, 2024), Ja Rule and his wife, Aisha Murray, traveled to Ghana to advance an educational initiative. His visit came after sharing plans to establish a major school in the region, linked to a reported $100 million record label agreement.
Providing an update on the initiative, Ja Rule took to Instagram this week to express his enthusiasm about the advancements in building his school in Ghana.
Speaking about the development, Ja Rule shared “My school in Ghana is looking beautiful can’t wait till it’s finished… sending my love and big thank you to Pencils of promise for giving me the opportunity to help change lives… 🧡🇬🇭🙏🏾.”
This was accompanied by several photos showcasing the construction process, revealing the building’s structure nearing completion and significant progress already made.
TEMS TO TOUR AFRICA IN 2025, SOUTH AFRICA, NIGERIA, RWANDA, KENYA & MORE
As part of her ongoing Born In The Wild World Tour, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Tems will be making a stop in Johannesburg come 2025.
The concert will take place on March 20, 2025, at the Dome, Nasrec.
In addition, Tems shared that her Born In The Wild Tour will include more shows across Africa, with upcoming performances in Nigeria, Rwanda, Ghana, and Kenya.
Dates for these performances are yet to be announced in the coming months.
WOMEN AFCON 2025 MOROCCO DRAW: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
The recent 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) draw revealed that Morocco, as the host nation, will compete in Group A alongside Ghana, Mali, and Tanzania.
The draw took place on took place on Friday, 22 November 2024, at the Mohammed VI Technical Centre in Salé, Morocco.
Here are the drawn teams:
Group A: Morocco, Zambia, Senegal, DR Congo
Group B: Nigeria, Tunisia, Algeria, Botswana
Group C: South Africa, Ghana, Mali, Tanzania
NAMIBIA HOLDS ELECTIONS TO SELECT NEW PRESIDENT AND PARLIAMENT
On Wednesday, 27 November 2024, voters in Namibia headed to the polls to select a new president and parliament. With approximately 1.4 million eligible voters, this election could see the country’s first female president elected.
The current interim president, Nangolo Mbumba, who took over after Hage Geingob’s death in February, is not running.
The ruling South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) party, which has seen a decline in support since 2014, is aiming to secure another term in power.
Their candidate, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, is vying to become the first female president in Southern Africa.
The election results are expected to be finalized by the weekend.
POLICE INVESTIGATE INCIDENT AT METRO TV
An investigation is underway by the Ghana Police Service following an altercation at Metro TV’s offices in Accra on November 27, 2024, which disrupted the live broadcast of Good Morning Ghana.
The clash occurred when police officers, alongside a court bailiff and representatives from Vodacom Business (Ghana) Limited, arrived to execute a court order against the station.
The confrontation resulted in injuries to a security guard and prompted widespread public concern.
Addressing the issue, the police stated: “Preliminary Police investigations indicate that upon a request from the court, Police Officers accompanied a court bailiff in the company of the judgment creditor, Vodacom Business (Ghana) Limited, to execute a court order against Metro TV.”
Guests Kwasi Pratt and Dr. Richard Asante Yeboah were on air when armed men and civilians disrupted the broadcast. Although no injuries were reported, the standoff was resolved swiftly.
The investigation will explore the enforcement of the court order, legal procedures, and its impact on press freedom. Metro TV has yet to address the issue publicly.
GHANA LAUNCHES ELECTRIC BUSES FOR METRO MASS TRANSIT
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia recently introduced electric buses to Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMT) to revolutionize Ghana’s public transportation system.
This initiative is part of the government’s drive to make transport more affordable and accessible for all Ghanaians.
It’s expected to reduce the cost of travel while contributing to environmental sustainability by lowering carbon emissions.
The project represents a major milestone in Ghana’s journey toward a greener future. The introduction of electric buses aligns with the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government’s focus on modernizing the country’s infrastructure.
The buses will undergo test operations beginning this week.
The buses will operate on key routes, including Oyibi-Accra, Accra-Amasaman, and Ashaiman-Accra. This program is anticipated to cut public transportation costs by 40%.
NIGERIA SAVES $7.5 BILLION ANNUALLY AFTER FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL – PRESIDENT TINUBU
The presidency has revealed that Nigeria has saved $7.5 billion annually after removing the fuel subsidy, a significant shift in resource allocation.
This amount, previously used for fuel price subsidies, is now being redirected to other key sectors.
President Tinubu’s administration has also introduced reforms, including five new executive orders aimed at attracting $2.5 billion in investments in the oil and gas sector.
In addition, two pricing tiers for petroleum products have been established—one for truck deliveries and another for sea transport.
While the subsidy removal led to a sharp rise in petrol prices, it has allowed the government to invest in critical areas like education, health, and infrastructure.
PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO UNVEILS BANK OF GHANA’S NEW BANK SQUARE HEADQUARTERS
President Akufo-Addo officially launched the Bank Square, the new headquarters of the Bank of Ghana, on November 20 in Accra. The state-of-the-art facility, built by Berock Ventures Limited, emphasizes sustainability and innovation in the banking sector.
The opening ceremony included remarks from Vice President Bawumia and other notable figures. Akufo-Addo commended the Bank of Ghana for its vital role in the country’s economic stability and growth since 1957.
He said, “This is a testament to the resilience and aspirations of our people,” highlighting the building’s significance to Ghana’s future.
The President praised the building’s eco-friendly design and said it symbolized Ghana’s resilience and ambitions for the future. He stressed the importance of strong leadership in driving the nation’s economic development, noting the need for sustainable growth.
Highlighting Ghana’s recent economic gains, Akufo-Addo pointed to a 6.9% GDP growth and a drop in inflation, attributing these achievements to the Bank of Ghana’s sound monetary management.
RWANDA EXTRADITES INDIAN MAN ACCUSED OF TERROR LINKS
On November 27, 2024, Rwanda’s Ministry of Justice extradited Salman Khan, a man suspected of having ties to a terrorist organization in India and accused of radicalizing people against the Indian government.
Khan had been arrested in Rwanda on September 9, following an INTERPOL red notice issued by India.
After confirming Khan’s presence in Rwanda, the Indian government filed an extradition request on October 29, which was processed by Rwanda’s Minister of Justice, Emmanuel Ugirashebuja.
This marks the first extradition between the two countries, even though there is no formal extradition treaty between them.
John Bosco Siboyintore, a senior official with Rwanda’s National Public Prosecution Authority, discussed how Rwanda and India had established a reciprocal agreement in recent weeks to handle this case. He stressed that this move would help both countries collaborate more effectively on future extradition cases, even without the formal treaty.
“This marks the first extradition between Rwanda and India,” Siboyintore noted, underlining the significance of this cooperation in fighting cross-border crime.
Siboyintore further emphasized that global issues like terrorism and organized crime require nations to go beyond traditional borders. “These crimes can no longer be contained by borders,” he remarked.
He pointed out that international collaboration is essential in the face of modern criminal challenges, stating, “We must address the impunity gap that has long existed and work together to hold criminals accountable.”
This extradition represents a significant step in strengthening international cooperation in criminal justice.
FAUSTINE NDUGULILE: CANDIDATE ELECTED TO LEAD WHO’S AFRICA OFFICE DIES AT 55
Dr. Faustine Ndugulile, Member of Parliament for Kigamboni and the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Africa Director-elect, passed away early Wednesday (27 Nov.) while receiving medical treatment in India, officials confirmed.
The tragic news was shared by Tanzania’s Parliamentary Speaker, Dr. Tulia Ackson, who expressed her deep sorrow in a brief statement on Parliament’s social media platforms.
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Dr Faustine Ndugulile, the MP for Kigamboni and WHO Regional Director-elect for Africa. On behalf of all Members of Parliament, I extend heartfelt condolences to his family, residents of Kigamboni, and all Tanzanians,” Dr. Ackson stated.
In addition, the WHO Regional Office for Africa shared their condolences in a statement:
“We are deeply saddened about the sudden and shocking news of the passing of Dr Faustine Ndugulile, Regional Director-elect of WHO’s Africa region.
We send our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, the Government, and the people of Tanzania.
Dr Ndugulile was a staunch champion of health for all in Africa and his presence, talent,t and dedication will be missed.”
OPPOSITION CANDIDATES KILLED AS TANZANIA HOLDS LOCAL ELECTION
Tanzanian opposition party Chadema reported on Wednesday that three of its members had been killed in connection with local election incidents, alleging electoral fraud.
Freeman Mbowe, the party chairman, stated on X that one candidate, Modestus Timbisimilwa, was fatally shot by police in Dar es Salaam as he tried to block “fake and invalid ballots” from reaching a polling station.
Additionally, Chadema claimed that George Juma Mohamed, another candidate, was murdered in Mkese the night prior.
Police stated the death occurred when prison officers were dispatched to resolve a confrontation between Chadema and CCM party supporters, and fired “warning shots.”
Additionally, Steven Chalamila, another Chadema official, was killed in a machete attack at his home in Tunduma near the Zambian border on Tuesday night, the party confirmed.
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