President John Dramani Mahama

Following President Donald Trump’s sweeping executive order shutting off the funding for foreign aid programmes, President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana will invest in increasing food production as a response to the suspension.

This suspension is expected to have far-reaching economic effects across Africa, with Ghana facing a significant revenue shortfall of US$156million.

For instance, US$78.2million of the shortfall will impact crucial health programmes including malaria prevention, maternal and child health, family planning and HIV/AIDS interventions.

Speaking at the town hall forum of the Munich Security Conference in Germany last Friday, President Mahama expressed concern over the potential impact but advocated that Africans take steps to mitigate the effects by increasing local food production and securing alternative sources of funding.

The Munich Security Conference is an international security summit held annually in Munich, Germany. The gathering provides a venue for international decision-makers and diplomats to debate ideas and address security concerns.

The conference initially provided Germany, the U.S. and other NATO member-countries a forum to discuss and debate Western policy during the Cold War. President John Dramani Mahama was in Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference.

The president also serves as Chairperson of the Tana Forum and will lead a Tana/MSC side event on ‘Deepening Global Fragmentation: Implications for Africa’s Peace and Security’.

While in Munich, President Mahama was scheduled to have bilateral discussions with a number of world leaders and organisations on a broad range of issues, mostly centring on mutual cooperation between Ghana and the respective countries.

The President has signalled his government’s resolve to invest in increasing food production, ensuring food security amid signs of less aid coming in from major donors such as the United States’ due to its new foreign policy direction.

USAID was first created by President John F. Kennedy in a 1961 executive order; Congress passed a law in 1998 to make it an “independent establishment” like others in the Cabinet.

Multiple administrations, Democratic and Republican alike, built USAID into an institution that has helped save millions of lives around the world, promoted U.S. interests in remote corners of the globe and employed thousands of Americans.

Saaka Abuba being declared winner by the EC official

Mr. Saaka Abuba, has been elected as the North East Regional Council of State Representative.

Mr. Abuba, polled 7 votes beating his contender Asabigi San Malunga Nasamu who secured 5 votes out of the 12 total votes cast.

On February 11, 2025, the North East Region failed to elect a Regional Council of State representative.
The Electoral Commission (EC) rescheduled the North East Council of State election re-run to today, Monday, February 17, 2025 due to a tie between Saaka Abuba and Asabigi San Malunga Nasamu who both polled 6 votes each.

Mr. Abuba, thanked delegates for their trust in him and for the opportunity to serve the region at the council of state level.

He assured them of his commitment to supporting the president in developing projects that will transform and positively impact the people of Mamprugu.

FROM Eric Kombat

President John Dramani Mahama

Ministers of Finance and the Central Bank Governors of African Union (AU) Member States have endorsed the draft statute for establishing the African Monetary Institute (AMI), as part of an effort to boost the continent’s financial and economic integration.

This is through the Specialised Technical Committee on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning, and Integration.

President John Dramani Mahama, who is the Champion of African Union (AU) Financial Institutions, disclosed his keynote address at the Heads of State and Government breakfast dialogue held at the AU Commission headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The event on the theme, “Africa at the forefront: Mobilizing African Investment and Financing for Implementing Agenda 2063”, was held on the sidelines of the AU Summit, under the auspices of the Alliance of African Multilateral Financing Institutions, also called the African Club.

The President said the AMI would serve as a precursor to the African Central Bank and will carry out essential preparatory work, including technical and legal assessments, as well as ensuring the implementation of macroeconomic convergence criteria.

He noted that the AMI awaits further consideration and adoption by the heads of state and government through the AU policy organs.

“Similarly, the African Monetary Fund, the AMF, supports macroeconomic stability, which is crucial for investor confidence,” he said.

He said the African Investment Bank was also a pivoter in funding infrastructure projects such as energy, transport, digital transformation, while the Pan-African Stock Exchange was envisaged to integrate capital markets, making it easier for businesses to raise capital and thereby enhancing liquidity, promoting intra-African investments, and providing alternative financing mechanisms for governments and the private sector.

He said progress was being made towards the establishment of this exchange, with the Commission and the African Security Exchanges Association working on the exchange’s linkages project.

He noted that this initiative also aims to enhance liquidity and facilitate capital mobilization across African nations.

President Mahama said accelerating the implementation of the African Union Financial Institutions, namely the African Central Bank, the African Investment Bank, and the African.

The Monetary Fund and the Pan-African Stock Exchange were instrumental in fostering investments and financing to achieve their objectives.

He said that mobilising resources, facilitating trade, and financing infrastructure projects, could reduce dependence on external aid and create a self-sustaining economic ecosystem for Africa.

He said the African Central Bank was aimed at establishing a single African currency, which would help to reduce exchange rate risks and enhance investment flows across the continent.

“We encourage more African stock exchanges to join this important project. Undeniably, strong political will and effective policy coordination are going to be crucial for the successful implementation and overall impact of the African Union financial institutions,” he said.

President Mahama said Ghana continues to champion and advocate for member states to embark on due processes at the national levels to expedite the establishment of these institutions, recognizing their significance in promoting investments and financing the AU Agenda 2063.

“While we have made significant strides, the journey ahead requires unwavering commitment,” he said.

“I call upon all our governments, our private sector, our civil society organisations, and development partners to renew their commitment to mobilizing resources for our continental blueprint on development. “Let us leverage our collective strengths, foster strategic partnerships, and champion innovative solutions to bridge the financing and investment gaps in Africa.”

Adding that, “the Africa we envision, a continent that is integrated, prosperous and peaceful, is within our reach”.

Adding that by mobilizing their resources, reforming their financial systems, and investing in their people, they could realize the laudable aspirations of creating the Africa they want, their Agenda 2063.

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Bertha Badu Agyei/Harriet Kwakye  

Accra, Feb 17, GNA-Care for Society Network International (CfSNI) a not-for-profit organisation has organised a training for senior high school girls at Kibi Secondary Technical School on self-confidence to shun peer pressure. 

The workshop was under a project called “Obaa Nhweso Initiative” which sought to mentor and nurture young students on the need to progress in their academic pursuits and avoid teenage pregnancies and dropping out of school. 

Mrs Anita Ampofoa Amoako-Gyimah, Founder of CfSNI indicated that building a strong foundation and an ethical society was in the values instilled in young girls who would become future adults.  

By helping young girls identify their potentials and understand the importance of self-confidence through such trainings “we’re not just shaping individuals, but influencing the future of our communities”. 

She said due to gender stereotypes which had influenced some long-held perceptions about girls’ education, mentoring and nurturing them was critical to achieving gender-equality. 

She also observed that the rise of social media had amplified the pressures young girls faced, often leading to insecurity and self-doubt, which reinforced the need for such education. 

The participants were taken through practical strategies to help them to build resilience, withstand peer pressure, set meaningful goals, and maintain focus to go through the academic ladder.  

The interactive sessions encouraged the girls to identify their strengths, overcome their fears, and develop healthy relations to foster personal growth. 

One of the participants Ama a 16-year-old girl said the experience was transformative. “I used to doubt myself a lot, especially when I faced challenges. But now, I tell myself, ‘I am determined’ every day, and it gives me the courage to keep pushing,” she said. 

GNA