Ivory Coast

Ecobank breaks five-year dividend drought

admin — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 13:30:01 +0000

Ecobank breaks five-year dividend drought admin Sun, 06/19/2022 - 13:30

Monday, May 30, 2022

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Original Article

Ecobank breaks five-year dividend drought

Shareholders of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), the parent company of the Ecobank Group, yesterday approved the payment of a dividend per share of $0.16 cents, the first dividend payment since 2016.

The leading pan-African bank with operations across 33 African countries held its 34th Annual General Meeting (AGM) yesterday in Abidjan, Côte d’ Ivoire.

Chairman, Ecobank Group, Alain Nkontchou said 2021 was a transformational year for the group, thus the decision of the board to reward shareholders with a dividend for the first time since 2016.

“As we continue to deliver on our strategic imperatives, we are firmly positioned as the ideal partner for households and businesses to grow and succeed, and to foster Africa’s economic development, while continuing to grow our revenues and value,” Nkontchou said.

Chief Executive Officer, Ecobank Group, Ade Ayeyemi said: “Our scalable payments ecosystem endows us with low cost-to-serve and the readiness to facilitate the expected huge growth in payments and collections. This, coupled with our intent to be the trade bank for sub-Saharan Africa, makes us a key player in helping Africa’s businesses and economies to maximise the huge opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” Ayeyemi said.

He added that the group’s first quarter results for 2022 provided a clear confirmation of Ecobank Group’s continuing strong and sustained performance trajectory reinforcing the bank’s reliability and capacity to successfully deliver on its Africa-focused purpose and support for the continent’s economies, regardless of the prevailing challenges.

“We are steadfast in our determination to win for all our stakeholders,” Ayeyemi assured.

Shareholders applauded the group’s impressively strong performance in 2021, which was achieved despite the challenging environment. The group’s profit for the year was $357 million compared with $88 million in 2020, although the latter was adversely affected by a goodwill impairment charge of $164 million. The group’s net revenues increased by 4.6 per cent to $1.757 billion.

Ayeyemi said Ecobank’s ‘one market endless possibilities’ AGM theme underlined the infinite possibilities offered by the African market, especially in the era of the AfCFTA, adding that the bank is ready to maximise this one market with endless possibilities with its customers and clients by providing support to trade and satisfying the financial needs of customers and clients, using its innovative solutions and services.

According to him, with an unrivalled African footprint, strong balance sheet and ability to tap capital markets as necessary, Ecobank’s commercial, corporate and investment, and consumer banking divisions’ continued and effective growth and impact is assured.

Shareholders also approved all the resolution presented at the AGM, including the appropriation of profits, the renewal of the mandates of directors and the appointment of alternate auditors.

This article was first published in THE NATION.

Africa

Business

Sen. Snowe: ECOWAS to name, shame 3rd-term governments

admin — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 09:20:01 +0000

Sen. Snowe: ECOWAS to name, shame 3rd-term governments

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admin Wed, 02/23/2022 - 09:20

Monday, February 7, 2022

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Politics News – The New Dawn Liberia

Original Article

Sen. Snowe: ECOWAS to name, shame 3rd-term governments

By Lewis S. Teh

Bomi County Senator and Chairman on Security, and governance at the ECOWAS Parliament, Edwin Melvin Snowe says the committee on security and governance and the regional parliament, in general, will not relent on naming and shaming any democratically elected government in the region that will go beyond two terms.

“There’s is an upcoming ECOWAS summit which is expected to be hosted here in Liberia, at that summit we will discuss key issues affecting the region, including to name and shame any government that will want to go beyond their two-term limits, informing your citizens that you oppose the two-term limits given you by your constitution”, he says.

Appearing on OK Morning Rush a live talk show on Monday, February 7, 2022, in Monrovia, Sen. Snowe said the regional block is working to have a treaty on good governance to ensure that no government exceeds two terms in office.

He says the last ECOWAS summit held, Togo and Ivory Coast weren’t happy with the treaty regarding the two terms adding that in ECOWAS, most of the decisions are based on consensus, saying because of their rejection, that treaty was withdrawn. “But this summit, we’re putting that treaty back on the table to make sure that no country goes beyond the regular two-term limit.

The Bomi County Senator continues that ECOWAS has also discouraged military takeover in member states, saying “there are actions that will be taken to ensure peace in the region, and luckily for us, Liberia will be making history, because they will be hosting the entire ECOWAS parliament this March where over 200 participants will be in attendance, and the main discussion will center around the military takeover in the region.”

He says that the summit will come up with a strong resolution that will be submitted to President Weah and the President of Ghana, who’s the current chair for the ECOWAS Commission.

” At that summit, we will be condemning all those presidents that will be changing their constitutions, and condemning those countries that will go against two-term limits, corruption, nepotism, human rights abuse because those are things that trigger a military takeover”, Sen. Snowe notes.

He observes that the number of military takeovers in the region is on the increase, and the pending summit to be hosted in Liberia will be a huge debate on such issues, adding that when the military starts to feel that the country’s constitution is being abused, then it gives room for military takeover because the military in any country has the biggest gun far than the police.

“We as politicians must take the necessary action to avoid this thing from happening, let’s do the right thing so we can’t have the wrong action”, he cautions.

West Africa has witnessed three military coups in less than a year, beginning from Mali, followed by Guinea with the latest in Burkina Faso principally due to corruption and bad governance, including constitutional amendments by sitting presidents to seek a third term in office as it occurred in neighboring Guinea and Ivory Coast despite mass opposition. Editing by Jonathan Browne

Africa

Politics

Liberia: Foreign Minister Signs Agreement with Cote d’Ivoire for the Supply of Petroleum Products; Urges Local Importers Not to Panic

admin — Sat, 09 Oct 2021 14:40:01 +0000

Liberia: Foreign Minister Signs Agreement with Cote d’Ivoire for the Supply of Petroleum Products; Urges Local Importers Not to Panic

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admin Sat, 10/09/2021 - 14:40

Friday, September 24, 2021

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Business – FrontPageAfrica

Original Article

Liberia: Foreign Minister Signs Agreement with Cote d’Ivoire for the Supply of …

MONROVIA – Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs has taken a step to help the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC) mitigate possible future shortage of petroleum products on the market, hence entering into a bilateral cooperative agreement with neighboring Ivory Coast.

Foreign Minister Dee-Maxwell Kemayah signed the agreement on behalf of the Liberian government early this week with the Ivorian Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Thomas Camara.

The Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company, Marie Urey Coleman was also present at the signing in Abidjan, the Ivorian capital.

The agreement is a three-year bilateral cooperative agreement that would see Liberia benefit from the supply of petroleum products from Ivory Coast and this would complement the shipments of local importers.

Speaking during the signing ceremony in Abidjan at the offices of the Ministry of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Minister Kemayah said the reason for the visit is to negotiate with their Ivoirian neighbor for them to supply the Liberian markets with petroleum products, particularly gasoline, diesel and bitumen, which will be affordable, accessible and available at all times throughout the Republic of Liberia without shortage.

Minister Kemayah used the occasion to pay tribute to the importers of petroleum products in Liberia, noting that the Bilateral Cooperation agreement signed between the Government of Liberia and the Government of Cote D’Ivoire will in no way put the importers out of business.

Minister Kemayah explained that this bilateral cooperation agreement is a breakthrough for the government of Liberia to meet the bread-and-butter issue in the country, stating that a constant supply of petroleum products at an affordable price will further mitigate the prices of other commodities on the Liberian markets.

Minister Kemayah said the Bilateral Cooperation agreement is pursuant to overarching desire and vision of President George Manneh Weah to transform the lives of the Liberian people in line with the Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD).

Minister Kemayah said he initiated discussions in April of this year, with the Foreign Minister of Cote D’Ivoire, Madam Kandia K. Camara for this agreement which is a non-upfront-cash bilateral cooperation agreement.

This means, the Ivoirian company representing the government of Cote D’Ivoire, will supply the petroleum products to the government of Liberia through the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC). Sales will be made and thereafter payments done to the government of Cote D’Ivoire through the designated operator of the Ivorian government.

He commended Madam Camara for her role played so far in the Bilateral Cooperation Agreement.

Minister Kemayah pointed out that the agreement met the full blessings of both Presidents of the Liberia and Cote D’Ivoire, President George Manneh Weah, and President Alassane Ouattara of Cote D’Ivoire.

For his part, Minister Camara used the occasion to introduce the major players on the Ivoirian side, who will directly interact with their Liberian counterparts in implementing this Bilateral Cooperation Agreement.

Minister Camara said the bilateral cooperation agreement, which is signed for three years is renewable at the end of its expiration date, noting that Cote D’Ivoire is well prepare to honor their part of the agreement to supply petroleum products to Liberia.

Minister Camara commended the Liberia Foreign Minister Ambassador Kemayah for initiating the “brilliant ideas” for the two sisterly countries to cooperate in this great venture that will mutually benefit the two peoples, noting that this will further strengthen the bilateral ties between the two countries in the sub-region.

According to Minister Kemayah and Minister Camara, they were able to link the two companies to discuss modalities on how to kick start the full implementation of the bilateral cooperation agreement in the soonest of time.

According to the agreement, before the supply of petroleum products to Liberia from Côte d’Ivoire, a joint committee will be set up to study the modalities of carrying out the operation.

“The joint committee thus constituted will be responsible for dealing with the following points relating to the project for the supply of petroleum products to Liberia from Côte d’Ivoire:

The demand for petroleum products from Liberia; the transport, reception and storage infrastructures; the legal and contractual framework; the financing mechanisms; and, the project implementation schedule.

“Within the joint committee, the following structures are designated as focal points to represent the parties: the Ivorian Refining Company (La SIR) and the Multinational Bitumen Company (la SMB) for Côte d’Ivoire; and Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) for Liberia.

“This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of signing by the Parties for a period of three (3) consecutive years with the option to renew after expiration. This Agreement may be amended on the written proposal of either Party and by mutual agreement.

In February and March last year, Liberia experienced an acute shortage of petroleum products leading to long queues at filling stations in and around the capital, Monrovia. The situation led to price doubling.

An error in the accounting of fuel supplies in state-run tanks left Liberia with 1.1 million gallons of fuel this week, a fraction of the 4.4 million that the government thought it had, the then Minister of Commerce and Industry, Wilson Tarpeh told journalists.

Africa

I. Coast confirmed Ebola case

admin — Sat, 09 Oct 2021 09:20:01 +0000

I. Coast confirmed Ebola case

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admin Sat, 10/09/2021 - 09:20

Monday, August 16, 2021

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Health – The New Dawn Liberia

Original Article

I. Coast confirmed Ebola case

Health authorities in Ivory Coast have a case of the Ebola virus in the Cocoa-rich West African country, with the victim being an 18-year-old Guinean national.

In a statement issued by the Ivorian Government on Saturday, August 14, authorities at the Ministry of Health, Public Hygiene and Universal Health Coverage said they were informed by the Pasteur Institute of Côte d’Ivoire, of a POSITIVE case of Virus Disease EBOLA after the examination of a sample taken on August 13, 2021, in the medical emergencies of the CHU of Cocody, on a young girl aged 18, of Guinean nationality.

According to the statement, the young girl left Labé in Guinea for Abidjan by road. She arrived in Côte d’Ivoire on August 11 and was diagnosed and taken care of immediately by Ivorian health services on August 12, 2021, at 8 p.m.

Authorities said this was an isolated and imported case.

The patient is currently said to be in isolation and cared for at the treatment center for Highly Epidemic Diseases at the University Hospital of Treichville.

The authorities stated that Ivory Coast has vaccines against Ebola. The Government will vaccinate target groups (front-line health personnel, immediate patient contact, security forces at points of entry, etc.).

It further stated that on receipt of the results of the analyzes on Saturday at 7 a.m., an emergency meeting of the health monitoring committee was held today at 10 a.m., chaired by the Minister in charge of Health and ‘Public health.

The government has since reactivated its community surveillance of the Ebola response, organized follow-up of all identified contacts, creating awareness, prevention, diagnosis, and management of confirmed cases; immediate vaccination of target groups; ensure compliance with guidelines for the diagnosis and management of hemorrhagic fevers and the continuation of strict compliance with the barrier measures enacted against COVID-19 which remain valid for Ebola virus disease.

The Ivorian authorities also noted that it has intensified cross-border collaboration with Guinea, and has implemented standard procedures of the International Sanitary Regulations (RSI).

The Government thanks the technical and financial partners who quickly came forward to express their support for the health response.

It reassures the population and invites them to serenity. All arrangements are being made to deal with the situation. The sanitary device for the control of the disease exists and has been proven with success in the past. The Government invites the populations to respect hygiene and preventive measures.https://thenewdawnliberia.com/ebola-heroes-ask-rich-countries-to-support-global-vaccination/

Africa

Côte d’Ivoire: Ebola vaccination of high-risk populations begins three days after outbreak declared

admin — Sat, 09 Oct 2021 09:20:01 +0000

Côte d’Ivoire: Ebola vaccination of high-risk populations begins three days after outbreak declared

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admin Sat, 10/09/2021 - 09:20

Thursday, August 19, 2021

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Health – The New Dawn Liberia

Original Article

Côte d’Ivoire: Ebola vaccination of high-risk populations begins three days aft…

The vaccination against Ebola of high-risk populations began on Monday in Côte d’Ivoire following the discovery of an outbreak in the country three days ago. The swift response came after vaccines manufactured by Merck, which the World Health Organization (WHO) helped to secure to fight a four-month long outbreak in neighbouring Guinea, were quickly sent to the country.

NEW YORK, USA, 19 August 2021-/African Media Agency (AMA)/-The deployment from Guinea included 2,000 doses that are being used under the “ring strategy,” where people who have come into contact with a confirmed Ebola patient are given the vaccine, as well as first responders and health workers.

‘A critical tool’

Guinea also sent around 3000 vaccine doses manufactured by Johnson & Johnson. These are being used as booster jabs in areas not experiencing active transmission.

“The Ebola vaccine is a critical tool in the fight against the virus and so it’s a top priority to move rapidly and start protecting people at high risk of the disease,” said WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, who described the quick response as “remarkable and shows that with effective sub-regional solidarity we can quickly take measures to extinguish lethal infections that can potentially flare up into large outbreaks.”

Guinea link unconfirmed

The outbreak was declared in Côte d’Ivoire after the Ebola virus was confirmed in a patient who travelled to Abidjan by road from Guinea. One suspected case and nine contacts have also been identified and are being monitored, although no deaths have been reported.

There is no indication yet that the current outbreak in Côte d’Ivoire is linked with the one that was in Guinea and further analysis and genomic sequencing is being carried out to help determine any connection.

Controlling Ebola outbreaks

The outbreak is Côte d’Ivoire’s first since 1994 and to support the country’s efforts to control its spread, the WHO is deploying experts to join their country-based counterparts to help ramp up infection prevention and control, diagnostics, contact tracing, treatment, community mobilization and cross-border surveillance. The UN agency is also assessing whether additional vaccines will be needed to curb the disease.

In Guinea, the health authorities are stepping up surveillance, carrying out further investigations, identifying contacts in readiness for vaccination and readying an Ebola treatment centre.

Since the Ebola outbreak was declared in Guinea earlier this year, WHO has been supporting six countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, to prepare for a potential outbreak.

This included support in disease surveillance, screenings at border crossing points and in high-risk communities as well as setting up rapid response teams, improving testing and treatment capacity and reinforcing community outreach and collaboration.

The outbreak in Côte d’Ivoire is the third this year after the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Guinea.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of UN News.

Source : African Media Agency (AMA)

Africa

Living Standard

Liberia: Government to begin Ebola testing

admin — Sat, 09 Oct 2021 09:10:01 +0000

Liberia: Government to begin Ebola testing admin Sat, 10/09/2021 - 09:10

Friday, August 27, 2021

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Health – The New Dawn Liberia

Original Article

Liberia: Government to begin Ebola testing

By Lewis S Teh

The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Health announces plans to start rapid Ebola testing of healthcare workers assigned at various land borders.

“We are going to begin testing people especially, health care workers, who are assigned at the Ivoirian borders for Ebola”, says the head for immunization at the Ministry of Health, Adolphus Clarke.

Addressing reporters Thursday, August 26, 2021, during a weekly press briefing held at the Ministry of Information on Capitol Hill, Mr. Adolphus said though Ebola is not in Liberia, it was prudent to have citizens tested especially, health care workers who are front liners.

“As you may be aware, we have an outbreak in neighboring Ivory Coast and this means we have to be on our feet; that’s why beginning today, August 27, we will begin the vaccination exercise, beginning with people in Montserrado County”, he says.

He says the exercise will cover three sites, beginning with health workers at Redemption Hospital, Star Base, and Montserrado county health team.

Clarke adds that beyond Montserrado, citizens residing in counties that border neighboring Ivory Coast, including Maryland, Nimba, and Rivergee will receive the Ebola jab along with health workers to ensure they are protected, targeting over 2,000 persons.

However, providing an update on the COVID-19 pandemic, he says about 1,750 persons have received a second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine with a target to have 86,000 or more persons vaccinated in the second phase.

“As for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, we are hoping to vaccinate not less than 300,000 people; as we speak since we launched the J and J, we’ve been able to vaccinate 26, 352 persons, and 64 percent of that number accounts for males, meaning that we’ve been able to vaccinate 16,909 males and 9,4 41 females, which accounts for 36 percent

He notes that the result still shows there are more males turning out for the vaccines than females, saying, “We will continue to make this passionate appeal to our mothers, sisters to turn out and take their vaccine.”

Earlier, the Minister of Health, doctor Wilhelmina Jallah said there is no need for citizens to panic over the re-emergence of the Ebola virus disease, saying “we’re being told that there’s no new case in the Ivory Coast, all we have to do here in Liberia is to increase the awareness and tighten our surveillance at the borders.”

On the question of the recent Marburg virus disease in Guinea, the Minister says there’s is no new confirmed case in that country, and Liberia is fully prepared to conduct tests for any virus that may cross over into the country.

Commenting also on the COVID-19 says as of Thursday, August 26, 2021, Liberia has a total of 5,578 cases, while 5, 241 have recovered and that out of eight patients that were at the government treatment center, Star Base, three have been released.

She names Grand Cape Mount and Grand Gedeh as counties with three active cases, while Grand Kru and Bomi are in preparedness.

She however adds that Nimba and Rivergee reported a rise in cases due to the testing of Ivorian refugees that are returning home.

At the same time, Dr. Jallah says all those people reluctant to get vaccinated are highest risks, calling on the public to stop politicizing the process and come out to increase the vaccination rate.https://thenewdawnliberia.com/i-coast-confirmed-ebola-case/ Editing by Jonathan Browne

Africa

African Heads of State Call for an Ambitious Replenishment of the IDA20 to Support Their Recovery Agenda

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 09:40:01 +0000

African Heads of State Call for an Ambitious Replenishment of the IDA20 to Support Their Recovery Agenda

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admin Tue, 07/27/2021 - 09:40

Friday, July 16, 2021

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Business – FrontPageAfrica

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African Heads of State Call for an Ambitious Replenishment of the IDA20 to Supp…

ABIDJAN – Thirteen African Heads of State and governments concluded their one-day meeting in Abidjan today with a strong resolution to accelerate economic recovery from the shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, scale-up investments in human capital, and increase their job creation efforts. They called for a robust twentieth replenishment of the World Bank Group’s International Development Association (IDA20) to support these efforts.

In a joint declaration endorsed at the meeting, the Heads of State emphasized that economic recovery, job creation, and investments in human capital – including expanding access to vaccines – are critical to help people recover from the shocks of the pandemic, get out of extreme poverty, and build a more resilient and inclusive future.

“The funding process that begins in Abidjan this week, will conclude at the end of this year with a policy and financial package to support specific projects in the 74 IDA countries over the next three years. The goal to mobilize an IDA20 replenishment envelope of at least $100 billion, for three years, would be the largest amount raised in IDA’s history. This is a good opportunity to demonstrate that solidarity is effectively essential for the good of all and that we can act together to return to the path of income convergence that we were on prior to the pandemic and build a safer and prosperous world,” said President Alassane Ouattara of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire. “We know that when the World Bank has the backing of all its stakeholders, it has the capacity and oversight to make a difference.”

On jobs, the leaders committed to job creation efforts by developing the private sector, with emphasis on improving productivity through broad based digitalisation, mechanisation, African manufacturing – including vaccines, and improved access to finance and better business environment.

On human capital, the leaders called for education systems that support the acquisition and use of skills needed for the jobs of tomorrow, and resilient health systems, adaptive safety nets and service delivery systems. On economic recovery, the Heads of State expressed their determination to support structural and spatial transformation of economies, through better economic diversification and regional development within countries and regions, coupled with macroeconomic stability with special attention to public debt sustainability, security and peacekeeping issues, as well as better preparedness to protect economies and populations from various crises.

Acknowledging the high financing volumes needed to match the level of ambition of their development agenda, the leaders highlighted the importance of maximising both domestic and external financing resources. They observed that with the continent’s additional financing needs estimated at

$285 billion over the next five years, to fight the pandemic, climate change, and accelerate economic recovery, their enhanced domestic resource mobilization efforts would fall short. They therefore called for an earlier IDA20 replenishment of at least $100 billion by the end of 2021 to meet with aspirations for the continent.

“Today we heard from the Heads of State how this pandemic has affected their countries and their need for stable future financing to meet their development ambitions. IDA is a big part of financing and recovery solutions for all these countries,” said Axel van Trotsenburg, World Bank Managing Director for Operations. “An ambitious IDA20 will be a powerful force helping countries with a green and inclusive recovery to get back to the 2030 goals.”

The meeting was attended by leaders of Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mauritania, Madagascar, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo and Uganda, as well as Heads of regional commissions including the West African Economic and Monetary Union, Economic Commission for West Africa, Central African Economic and Monetary Community, and the African Union. The meeting was also attended by World Bank Group leadership and representatives of IDA donor governments.

About IDA

The International Development Association (IDA) is one of the largest sources of funding for fighting extreme poverty in the world’s lowest income countries. IDA provides zero- or low-interest loans and grants to countries for projects and programs that boost economic growth, build resilience, and improve the lives of poor people around the world. Since 1960, IDA has provided about $422 billion for investments in 114 countries. As an institution of the World Bank Group, IDA combines global expertise with an exclusive focus on reducing poverty and boosting prosperity in the world’s lowest income countries. Learn more online: IDA.worldbank.org. #IDAworks4Africa

The post African Heads of State Call for an Ambitious Replenishment of the IDA20 to Support Their Recovery Agenda appeared first on FrontPageAfrica.

Africa

Business

Inside QNet Pyramid Scam Scheme

admin — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 12:50:02 +0000

Inside QNet Pyramid Scam Scheme

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admin Wed, 07/21/2021 - 12:50

Monday, July 12, 2021

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Foroyaa Newspaper

Original Article

Inside QNet Pyramid Scam Scheme

By Yankuba Jallow

In what looks like a daylight robbery, Foroyaa’s four months investigation has found a global e-marketing group operating in The Gambia amassing wealth from Gambians, including innocent students.

Dubbed QNet, the company does this under the ploy that they organize “Business Management” with the promise to give the students what they refer to as “International Certificate”.

In this piece, we unveil the untold stories of many Gambians, including students who became victims of QNet’s alleged financial fraud.

This pyramid-like-scheme trapped Gambians into luring fellow Gambians to venture into a business dubious in toto; yet persisting because most victims were swayed into the business by those they trusted.

It may seem like a movie-like-script, but these scenes didn’t come from Hollywood. The setting is in the smallest country in mainland Africa- The Gambia, home to little over two million people, many of whom struggle daily to make ends meet.

Victim 1:

EnterFatima Bah, a teacher at Sinchu Baliya Lower Basic School. Bah was introduced to QNet by her colleague teacher, Mariama Njie, who was in the business.

Her friend, Njie, told her she will introduce her to something that has the potential for her to get rid of poverty. Anxious due her condition and that of the family (taking care of her mother from her little earnings from teaching) Bah would agree to hear the offer.

At the meeting with her friend together with QNet officials at the QNet office, formerly at Kairaba Avenue, Bah said she was told to make payment of any of the following; D36,000, D37,000 or D38,000.

“I was never convinced about their business. Mariama would come to my house every day trying to convince me to join but I told her I cannot join because I am the breadwinner of my family,” she recalled. “I told her my salary is very little and I cannot pay for it. She insisted that if I join I will get out of poverty.”

But Bah’s colleague, Njie, was persistent. She suggested to her to take a loan from the bank to make her payment. Bah declined owing to the fact that at the time, she had a loan with the teachers’ credit union which she was struggling to pay. Nonetheless, adamant Njie would come to her every weekend persuading her to join the business. And she said Njie got her a guarantor at the bank to secure a loan of D38,000 because she was not saving with them.

“I received a loan of D38,000 from GTBank which I handed over to Mariama. I was called at the QNet office where they explained the business to me further but I told them I am not interested,” she said. “Honestly, I am suffering. She really disturbed me. The bank is deducting me D1870 every month and I am the breadwinner of my family.”

Bah said the deduction began in October 2018 and would last for 3 years. She said she does not know the whereabouts of Njie as she always calls her but she wouldn’t pick the calls. In a bid to upkeep her personal and family needs plus repayment of the bank loan, Bah now teaches in double shifts from Monday to Friday.

“I want to apply to college but I can’t do that now. I am facing serious challenges. I am in a tough time,” she said.

Njie, whom Bah accused of luring her into the business, was contacted by Foroyaa for comment. She told us this: “I don’t have anything to do with QNet. Go to QNet and ask them questions.”

What We Know About QNet?

The Quality Networking Entrusted Transactions (QNET) is an e-commerce company that operates under the Infinity Millennial with offices across the country, including Abuko, Farato and as far as Basse in Upper River Region. Founded in 1998 in Asia and introduced in Africa around 2008, QNET has three registered groups in The Gambia using different names.

The first one is Q-Net Company registered by one Gambian national Wurri Sidibeh, to sell watches and jewelleries on the 27th July 2017. The second one is QUESTNET Gambia Limited registered on the 8th December 2017. QUESTNET company director is Abubakar Marico who owns 85% of the shares, Muhammed Sillah owns 5% of the shares, Abubakar Marico (a Burkinabe) owns 5% of the shares and Kawon Jikineh owns 5% of the shares. The third is QNET registered on the 21st November 2017 by one Sulayman Jallow.

The Registrar of Companies informed Foroyaa that none of the three companies have filed their annual returns since registration in 2017.

Dr Gibril Jaw, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority, said his office does not give any license to QNet to provide any training or classes for people. He said NAQAA regulates education and training for post-secondary level up to doctorate degree.

“There is nothing like QNet in our database. So, it is not part of institutions accredited by NAQAA,” Dr Jaw said.

The doctorate degree holder took time to advise all learners to always consult with NAQAA before they register, saying they are here to protect the interest of people. He said NAQAA will treat the issue of QNet with seriousness.

“NAQAA does not know QNet. There was no license issued to QNet. I have the list of institutions, but QNet is not part of it,” he said. “Before anybody registers, it is better to seek advice from NAQAA to see the status of the institution to know whether they are recognised and registered.”

He said NAQAA’s mandate extends to regulations of all post-secondary education levels as well as the informal sector through apprenticeship programmes.

“Online, face to face, sandwich and hybrid programmes are all regulated by NAQAA,” Dr Jaw said.

Africa

News

Hague Witness in Massaquoi Trial Says Liberian Witnesses Lied

admin — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 02:00:02 +0000

Hague Witness in Massaquoi Trial Says Liberian Witnesses Lied

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admin Wed, 07/21/2021 - 02:00

Saturday, May 15, 2021

Original Publisher

News – FrontPageAfrica

Original Article

Hague Witness in Massaquoi Trial Says Liberian Witnesses Lied

By Mae Azango New Narratives & FPA Justice correspondent

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone – The Finnish court trying former Revolutionary United Front commander Gibril Massaquoi for war crimes allegedly committed in Liberia heard from a defense witness on Friday who had testified against former Liberian president Charles Taylor in the Special Court for Sierra Leone.

Codenamed “witness 7” the former RUF commander echoed the testimony of previous witnesses testifying to the court in Freetown that Massaquoi could not have been in Liberia when dozens of Liberian witnesses said he committed atrocities.

Like previous witnesses, “7” denied knowing Massaquoi had ever fought in Liberia and said the witnesses in Liberia who accused Massaquoi of atrocities including murder, rape and torture, were lying against an innocent man.

“When I heard that Massaquoi was in jail because he is accused of fighting and killing in Liberia, I cried, because he never fought any war in Liberia but he only went for peace talks with Taylor in 2000,” he said.

Witness 7 was the latest of 19 witnesses who will testify on Massaquoi’s behalf in the Sierra Leone sessions of the trial. Massaquoi’s defense team is trying to establish doubt about the testimonies of dozens of witnesses in Liberia who said Massaquoi in his alias of “Angel Gabriel” committed atrocities in Lofa County and in the Waterside area of Monrovia, Liberia. The defense contends Massaquoi was under witness protection in Freetown when the witnesses said he committed crimes in Liberia and could not have traveled to Liberia. Defense witnesses have also suggested that there was another fighter in Liberia at the time with the name “Angel Gabriel” who may have committed the crimes.

Prosecutors challenged the witness’s testimony saying he had told the Special Court for Sierra Leone a different story from that he was telling the Finnish court.

Reading from his statement in The Hague, prosecutors cited a passage where he said he witnesses a vehicle filled with ammunition leave former President Taylors’s house and go to the Airfield in Monrovia. He said ammunition was put onboard a chopper and taken to Lofa as supply for the RUF. Witness 7 told the Finnish Court he could not remember that testimony or those events.

A portion of The Hague testimony read: “Witness told the court that he saw Charles Taylor giving US 10,000 dollars to Sam Burkarie, also known as General Mosquito, and the witness saw Mosquito counting the money.”

Looking nervous Witness 7 said, “It has been long, I cannot remember saying anything like that.”

“7” admitted going to Liberia to clear a supply route in Lofa County as soldier also said the previous day, and said the RUF pushed LURD rebels as far as the Guinea border.

“I was the brigade commander, and I went to Foya, Kolahun and Voinjama because the road was blocked by LURD forces,” he said. “I carried men with me and Massaquoi was not part of us because he was not in Liberia.”

Code 7, who said RUF fighters were known as the Cobra Unit by the Liberian government, denied that RUF fighters killed any civilians in Lofa. Dozens of witnesses in the Liberian section of the trial in March had detailed numerous atrocities committed by RUF forces in Lofa County under the command of “Angel Gabriel” including the burning to death of dozens of children.

Witness 7 said he had only witnessed a Liberian army commander known as “Zig-Zag Massa” committing atrocities.

“I saw Zig-zar Massa killing human beings, drying their bodies and eating them. I was afraid and stayed far away from him, while I was in Liberia,” he said.

The man also told the court he was testifying in fear for his security because he had suffered greatly as a result of testifying against Taylor in the Special Court’s hearings in The Hague. Witness 7 said after he returned everyone knew that he had testified and people came to kill him. He said he fled his home to save his life. The witness showed a mark on his leg, which he said was from the incident. The Finnish judges assured “7” that if he felt threatened in any way, he should let the Finnish police know.

Massaquoi is being prosecuted in Finland for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Liberia. Massaquoi was relocated to Finland in 2005 in return for informing on Taylor and others for the Special Court but when Civitas Maxima, of Switzerland and Liberia-based Global Justice Research Project presented Finnish investigators in the city of Tampere, where he was living, with evidence of his war crimes in Liberia, they charged him in March 2020.

Massaquoi’s trial began on February 1 in Tampere. Rather than transport more than 80 witnesses set to testify to Finland in the midst of a pandemic, the Finnish court traveled to Finland and Sierra Leone.

Another defense witness, codenamed 10, told the court hearing on Friday that he was a radio operator for Massaquoi and said he knew Massaquoi when they were all trained together by the RUF leader Foday Sankoh in 1991. He said Sankoh came to liberate his people.

“In 1999 to 2003, I was operating radio for Massaquoi because he had a satellite to speak with BBC, RFI and VOA. Massaquoi was the public relations officer for the RUF, after Ivory Coast peace in 1996,” he said.

In another section of inquiry “10” said a strange number called him from Switzerland last year and the person told him there was a court trial coming to Sierra Leone.

“I saw a Switzerland number on my phone and when I missed the call so I returned called, the person said there was going to be a court trial and he wanted me to be on his side. When I asked for his name, he did not call his name so I told him if he cannot call his name, I won’t talk so I hung up the phone.”

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Nigerian women ‘dyeing’ to boost Nigeria’s forex earnings

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 05:10:01 +0000

Nigerian women ‘dyeing’ to boost Nigeria’s forex earnings

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admin Tue, 07/20/2021 - 05:10

Friday, July 9, 2021

Original Publisher

Business – Premium Times Nigeria

Original Article

Nigerian women ‘dyeing’ to boost Nigeria’s forex earnings

Johnson Bolatito’s Adire fabrics hung across the clothesline, swaying gently in the direction of the morning wind. Moments earlier at her cottage in Itoku area of Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, she had arranged the fabrics carefully across the twine to form a mélange of colours suspended into the firmament like a rainbow.

Ms Bolatito moved gently through a heap of clothes submerged in coloured water, unperturbed by the roaring sounds of an impending downpour. Away from the open verandah of the cottage, a cloud of steam escapes into the skies from a black pot of hot water placed on the edge of a nearby gutter. Beside the pot lie a few plastic buckets, and some metres away stood yet another black pot filled with water.

“We need water to make the coloured patterns come out well,” Ms Bolatito says in her native Egba dialect, her eyes fixated on the clothing materials.

“Making and designing Adire can be very stressful, as you’d see, but the result is always beautiful. Of course, we make good money from it, too.”

Inside the old houses adjacent to the popular Kampala Market in Itoku area of Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State, there are numerous Egba women designing traditional Adire clothing materials.

Ms Bolatito, 46, is one of them. She earns a living from the art of Adire cloth-making. She speaks to PREMIUM TIMES in the company of Jumoke, 38, another entrepreneur at the Itoku cottage.

“This is what I do, from which I feed myself, send my children to school and enjoy life,” says Jumoke, who would not give her second name.

“Many of the people doing this business have done very well for themselves, building houses and all that. Many of those who make the biggest money are those who can invest enough capital into the business.”

Jumoke refers to wealthy suppliers and owners of the big shops at popular Adire markets in Abeokuta, such as the Kampala Market, Panseke Market, Osiele Market, and other major markets in the ancient city.

“Many of those women are directly involved in the processing and designing like we do here,” she says, grinning. “But you may not know until you see them ‘get dirty’ inside coloured water here.”

From the sale of Adire, Jumoke told PREMIUM TIMES she has used the proceeds to support her family since her husband lost her job at the height of the Covid-19 crisis.

“Adire making is a good business, and depending on how much patronage we get, the proceeds could run into tens of thousands of naira monthly,” she says.

From a modest kiosk in Itoku, Jumoke says she has since expanded her supply chain to other markets in Abeokuta and beyond. She has equally brought in two of her cousins as aides, including three students of the local Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta.

Boosting Earnings

Nigeria relies on oil and gas for more than 80 per cent of its foreign exchange. Experts have argued that the country can boost its forex earnings by diversifying its revenue base to hedge the economy against the instability of the oil market.

The women producing Adire are not only creating a livelihood for themselves and their families, but are helping in their own way to boost Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings as their products are patronised well beyond Nigeria’s shores.

Adire is quite popular across West Africa. In Nigeria, its production is common among the Egba women entrepreneurs in the South-western part of the country.

Historically, export of the fabric was tied to the formation of Adire makers associations in different parts of Yorubaland, stemming from the complex problem they experienced in Abeokuta in the 1920s.

According to Bukola Oyeniyi, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Department of Political Studies and Governance, University of Free State, South Africa, attempts at solving these problems brought about two important developments: the introduction of new methods to Adire production, and the influx of many people into the business.

On account of these developments, patronage dropped, thus destroying the industry. Exports fell from £500,000 before 1928 to £150,000 by the mid-1930s, according to records from the National Archive, Ibadan.

In the years that followed, Adire cloth production and export became intertwined with that of cocoa production in Nigeria and Ghana. Again, when cocoa prices plummeted in 1937, the inability of farmers to continue to purchase Adire led to the decline of the industry.

In recent years, there have been conscious efforts to encourage export and spread the local fabrics to different parts of Africa and beyond.

Various styles of the fabric have been exported to markets in the United States, United Kingdom, Asia, and international airports around the world where Adire is sold at premium prices.

Adire fabrics are equally well sold at tourist centres, where merchants buy local materials at higher prices.

In Abeokuta, Iyabo Sodipe, an Adire trader, told PREMIUM TIMES that she exports the fabric to Ghana, Mali, and Ivory Coast, from where she makes as much as $1,215 annually.

“With better incentives and government support, we can do better and export Adire to many parts of Africa and the world and earn good foreign exchange,” she said.

Sayo Jacob, an Osogbo-based trader, said she told nearly $500 worth of Adire in 2019, but could not do much in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Traders, however, complain about the difficulty of exporting the designs, blaming bureaucracy and cost.

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