The Role of Electoral Oversight

Electoral oversight bodies are integral to democracy. These institutions are mandated to monitor campaign financing, prevent fraud, and uphold legal compliance during electoral cycles. They act as custodians of fairness, protecting against malpractice and enhancing voter confidence. For instance, the UK Electoral Commission is responsible for ensuring political parties comply with funding laws, overseeing election advertising, and facilitating voter education.

READ ALSO: http://US Election: Implications of Trump’s Victory for Africa

Without effective oversight, democracies risk sliding into electoral manipulation, as evidenced in some authoritarian-leaning regimes. Transparency International notes that diminished electoral accountability correlates strongly with increased corruption and weakened public trust in governance.

Recent Developments

United Kingdom

In 2021, the UK government introduced the Elections Bill, sparking controversy over proposed changes to the Electoral Commission’s independence. Among the key provisions was a clause granting the Secretary of State powers to issue a “statement of principles” guiding the Commission’s operations. Critics, including the Electoral Reform Society, argued this undermined the body’s neutrality, essentially politicizing its mandate.

Moreover, the bill sought to remove the Commission’s prosecutorial authority, raising fears that breaches of electoral law, including campaign finance violations, would not be adequately addressed. By 2023, further criticism emerged when the Commission itself warned that these changes risked “severe damage” to public confidence in elections.

United States

In the U.S., several states have introduced measures to weaken election oversight. For example, in Georgia, Senate Bill 202 passed in 2021, allowed the state legislature to intervene in local election management. Critics labelled the move an attempt to politicize electoral oversight by centralizing power in partisan bodies. Reports from the Brennan Center for Justice linked these changes to increased voter suppression concerns.

Tunisia

In September 2024, Tunisian lawmakers proposed a bill to strip the country’s administrative court of its authority to oversee electoral disputes. Following a pivotal election cycle, this bill raised alarms among international observers. Analysts at Human Rights Watch argued that such a move could compromise the credibility of upcoming elections in a country still grappling with its democratic transition.

Implications of Stripping Electoral Oversight Powers

Weakening electoral oversight has profound consequences for democratic systems. Below are the key implications:

1. Erosion of Public Trust

Public trust in elections is foundational to democracy. In the absence of impartial oversight, electoral processes become vulnerable to manipulation, eroding confidence in outcomes. A 2022 survey by the Pew Research Center found that trust in electoral systems significantly declined in countries where oversight mechanisms were weakened.

2. Increased Electoral Fraud and Misconduct

Without stringent checks, the risk of voter fraud, illicit campaign financing, and other irregularities rises. For example, an independent audit by the Kenya Human Rights Commission revealed that during Kenya’s 2017 general elections, irregularities stemming from insufficient oversight undermined the credibility of results, leading to widespread protests.

3. Reduced Voter Turnout

Voter turnout is directly influenced by trust in the system. Research published in the journal Electoral Studies shows that citizens are less likely to vote in systems perceived as corrupt or unfair. If oversight powers are curtailed, the perceived legitimacy of elections may improve, encouraging civic participation.

4. Politicization of Electoral Processes

When oversight bodies are stripped of independence, they risk becoming tools of those in power. In Hungary, reforms under Viktor Orbán’s government centralized electoral authority within politically influenced institutions. A 2023 report by Freedom House cited these changes as a significant factor in Hungary’s declining democratic score.

Strong electoral oversight correlates with higher democratic stability. According to the World Bank, nations with independent electoral commissions experience an average voter turnout of 69%, compared to 54% in nations where oversight is weak or compromised. Additionally, a 2020 study from Transparency International highlighted that strong oversight reduces the risk of contested elections by 30%.

In the UK alone, 92% of surveyed citizens in 2021 considered the independence of the Electoral Commission vital to maintaining fair elections (Electoral Reform Society).

Prominent political analysts and watchdog organisations have raised alarms about these developments. A statement from the UK’s Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) in 2023 emphasized that “The Electoral Commission must remain operationally independent. Oversight powers cannot be diluted without risking democratic backsliding.”

Similarly, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) noted in its 2022 annual report that democratic backsliding often begins with measures undermining electoral oversight.

Dr. Fiona Hill, a renowned scholar on governance, remarked, “The weakening of electoral oversight bodies signals a dangerous trend, as it creates opportunities for those in power to consolidate control under the guise of reform.”

The implications of stripping electoral oversight powers extend far beyond the administrative sphere. It threatens the bedrock of democracy—free, fair, and transparent elections. Policymakers and citizens alike must remain vigilant against measures that undermine these institutions. Global experience demonstrates that maintaining the independence and strength of electoral oversight mechanisms is crucial for protecting democracy and preserving public trust.

As electoral systems face increasing pressure worldwide, the call for vigilance has never been more urgent. Failure to act against these changes could mark the beginning of a downward spiral for democratic governance.

The post The Implications of Stripping Electoral Oversight Powers appeared first on African Leadership Magazine.

Globally, the market capitalisation of cryptocurrencies has surpassed $2.5 trillion, with Bitcoin reaching a record high of $73,750 on 14 March 2024 and contributing over $1.44 trillion to this figure. The cryptocurrency market is projected to grow to $6.4 billion by 2025. By then, the number of cryptocurrency users worldwide is expected to reach 107.3 million, with a user penetration rate of 7.41% in 2024, dipping slightly to 7.35% by 2025.

READ ALSO: http://Africa’s Influence in the Cryptocurrency Space

In Sub-Saharan Africa, cryptocurrency transactions have witnessed remarkable growth, accounting for 2.7% of the global crypto economy’s transaction volume. According to research by Chainalysis, the on-chain value of cryptocurrency transactions in the region reached an estimated $125 billion in 2024, a $7.5 billion increase from the previous year.

The increasing acceptance of cryptocurrencies in Africa stems from their diverse applications, including small, frequent transactions, business payments, and as a hedge against inflation. In Nigeria, for instance, roughly one-third of the population invests in cryptocurrencies. This has had a transformative impact, particularly among young Nigerians, enhancing financial inclusion and economic resilience.

To fully harness cryptocurrency’s potential, however, African nations must enhance government support, foster industry partnerships, and promote public awareness. These efforts will help build a more inclusive and prosperous future for the continent.

These are the top 10 African nations for cryptocurrency adoption in 2024, based on the most recent Chainalysis analysis.

1. Nigeria
Global Rank – 2
Rank (Africa) – 1

2. Ethiopia
Global Rank – 26
Rank (Africa) – 2

3. Morocco
Global Rank – 27
Rank (Africa) – 3

4. Kenya
Global Rank – 28
Rank (Africa) – 4

5. South Africa
Global Rank – 30
Rank (Africa) – 5

6. Uganda
Global Rank – 34
Rank (Africa) – 6

7. Algeria
Global Rank – 43
Rank (Africa) – 7

8. Egypt
Global Rank – 44
Rank (Africa) – 8

9. Ghana
Global Rank – 46
Rank (Africa) – 9

10. Democratic Republic of Congo
Global Rank – 48
Rank (Africa) – 10

The Potential Impact of Cryptocurrency on Africa

The rise of cryptocurrency aligns with Africa’s digital transformation and holds the potential to significantly influence its economic and social development. By leveraging blockchain technology, African nations can unlock new opportunities for financial inclusion, foster entrepreneurship, and accelerate growth.

Cryptocurrency can empower citizens by providing alternatives to traditional financial systems, especially in regions with limited banking infrastructure. Moreover, the transparency and decentralised nature of blockchain technology can enhance trust in financial transactions and support cross-border trade.

Africa’s embrace of cryptocurrency reflects a broader trend of technological innovation across the continent. With the right policies and partnerships, the continent can position itself as a global leader in the cryptocurrency space, driving economic empowerment and sustainable development.

The post Why Cryptocurrency Adoption is Rising in Africa appeared first on African Leadership Magazine.

The Diaspora Effect

Central to this transformation are the 168,000 African health professionals in the diaspora, who comprise nearly 13% of the global health workforce in developed countries. In the United States alone, African immigrants make up 22% of foreign-trained physicians, highlighting their indispensable role in global healthcare systems.

READ ALSO: http://Health Care Access: Innovations in Telemedicine Across the Continent

While many contribute abroad, an increasing number are returning or investing in cross-border initiatives, bringing expertise and resources to strengthen health systems across Africa. This “brain gain” is redefining Africa’s health narrative.

Africa CDC: A Health Command Centre

The establishment of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in 2017 marked a pivotal moment in Africa’s health leadership. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Africa CDC coordinated responses across 55 member states, delivering over 700 million vaccine doses through the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) by 2022.
Beyond COVID-19, Africa CDC has led efforts to combat diseases such as Ebola and monkeypox, demonstrating proactive leadership in global health governance.

Transforming Vaccine Manufacturing

Africa’s reliance on imported vaccines—previously 99%—is rapidly decreasing. By 2040, the African Union aims to produce 60% of the vaccines needed for the continent. Progress is already visible:

● South Africa: Aspen Pharmacare, Africa’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturer, partnered with Johnson & Johnson to produce COVID-19 vaccines for local and global use.

● Senegal: The Institut Pasteur de Dakar, with $200 million in funding, is expanding its capacity to produce 25 million vaccine doses annually by 2024.

● Rwanda: In partnership with BioNTech, Rwanda is establishing Africa’s first mRNA vaccine facility, a groundbreaking step in combating diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis.

This shift positions Africa as both self-reliant and a global supplier of life-saving vaccines.

A Hotbed for Health Research

African researchers are making significant contributions to global health. In 2021, they produced over 19,000 scientific publications, a sharp rise from previous decades. Leading institutions include:

● CAPRISA (South Africa): Its groundbreaking HIV prevention research has shaped World Health Organization (WHO) policies.

● KEMRI (Kenya): In partnership with the Wellcome Trust, KEMRI has advanced malaria vaccine development, notably the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine, now in use across Africa and Asia.

Tackling Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)

Africa is achieving remarkable success in addressing neglected diseases:

● Guinea Worm Eradication: Cases have fallen from 3.5 million in 1986 to fewer than 15 in 2023, thanks to coordinated efforts.

● Schistosomiasis Control: Ethiopia’s mass drug administration programme has halved prevalence rates in targeted regions, serving as a WHO model.

Genomics: Unlocking Africa’s Potential
Africa’s unparalleled genetic diversity is a treasure trove for medical breakthroughs. Initiatives like the Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) project have mapped over 50,000 African genomes, aiding treatments for conditions like sickle cell anaemia and hypertension.

South Africa’s African Genomics Centre is at the forefront of personalised medicine and genomics-driven drug development, positioning the continent as a global leader in this field.

The Role of the Diaspora

The African diaspora plays a vital role in strengthening health systems back home. Organisations like AMREF Health Africa and the African Diaspora Network mobilise resources and expertise to bolster healthcare across the continent:

● Diaspora Health Workers: Programmes like the African Diaspora Health Initiative enable short-term missions, treating over 500,000 patients annually in underserved areas.

● Training Investments: Initiatives such as the Ghana Diaspora Healthcare Initiative have trained 1,200 health workers, addressing critical care gaps.

Community-Based Healthcare Innovations
Africa’s grassroots health initiatives are global models for equitable healthcare:

● Ethiopia’s Health Extension Programme: By training over 45,000 community health workers, it reduced child mortality by 67% between 2000 and 2020.

● Kenya’s M-TIBA Platform: Enabling citizens to save and pay for healthcare via mobile phones, this innovation is being studied for adaptation in South Asia and Latin America.

Overcoming Challenges

Despite its progress, Africa still faces hurdles such as insufficient funding, infrastructure gaps, and brain drain. Meeting health goals requires an estimated $66 billion annually. However, the momentum is unstoppable. Initiatives like the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and increased private-sector investment are addressing these challenges.

Africa’s Prescription for the World

Africa is no longer the patient; it is the physician, offering solutions and innovations to global health challenges. From vaccine development to pandemic response, genomic research, and leveraging its diaspora, the continent’s contributions are reshaping the global health landscape.

Africa’s pulse is no longer weak. It beats strong and steady, driving a healthier future for all. As Africa rises, the world heals.

The post Africa’s Expanding Role in Global Health appeared first on African Leadership Magazine.

The African Leadership Magazine recently hosted some of the finest African Business, Political and Diplomatic Leaders during the 11th African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year awards presentation ceremony at the Intercontinental Mauritius Resort Balaclava Fort. The event, with the theme Reimagining Opportunities in a Turbulent Time, served as the platform for the formal presentation of the instruments of honour to Africans who emerged winners in the annual vote-based polls. The event had in attendance delegates from over 13 countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Angola, Kenya, DR Congo, Sierra Leone, Zambia, and Namibia, as well as the host country, Mauritius, amongst others.

The event’s keynote address was delivered by His Excellency Dr Julius Maada Bio, the Special Guest of Honor and the winner of the African of the Year Award 2022. In his address, President Bio maintained that “the word leader is used increasingly loosely these days…Leadership training programs abound, and many want to be called leaders”. He added that “… as leaders, we must prioritize regional security in Africa. Our Continent has experienced too much conflict and violence, and we cannot build a better future without addressing this issue. We must work together to promote peace and stability, resolve conflicts peacefully, and prevent the spread of violence.”

Beyond security across Africa, the President of Sierra Leone also urged African leaders to ” invest in human capital development ─ like we are doing in Sierra Leone ─ to build strong and resilient societies. This means providing quality healthcare and food security, improving hard and soft infrastructure, mainstreaming climate change mitigation and adaptation measures and investing in our people ─ especially our youth.”

Also speaking during the event, the Honorable Minister of Industrialization and Trade, Republic of Sierra Leone, Hon  Lucia Iipumbu, stated that “the leadership paradigm in Africa is gradually changing as the space is being opened up for women and young people, and she has become one of the ultimate beneficiaries of the shift.”   

The CEO of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), Hannan Abdul-Wahab also talked about promoting food security in Africa. He noted that “the main threats to food security, as we all aware, are population growth increase in demand for food, rising food prices, the disappearance of plant species, food loses, scarcity of water and food wastage”. As the man in charge of ensuring food security in Ghana, he urged African leaders to “address inefficient preparations, fix bad roads and improve on storage facilities. Scale up investments into agriculture. Address infrastructural bottlenecks. Pay attention to climate change and other environmental issues. Improve trade policies – examine the import substitution options. Promote diversification”.

The event also had a panel session, which x-rayed how the Banking sector can advance financial inclusion using unique products and services to promote economic growth and development in Africa. The session also provided a policy guide to support the financial sector towards actualizing this mandate, providing current trends, good practices, innovative approaches, and lessons learned to identify common challenges across the Continent and promoting linkages between policymakers and stakeholders in the financial services sector. Panel members included Mathieu Mandeng, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank, Mauritius; Sonny Zulu, Managing Director, Standard Chartered Bank, Zambia; Dr Sibongile Moyo, Managing Director, Nedbank Zimbabwe; and Mr Siven Selloyee, President, Asia-African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mauritius.

The event reached its climax with the formal presentation of the instruments of honour to the honorees of the 11^th African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year Awards presentation ceremony. Earlier, during the unveiling of the winners of the 11th edition of the POTY, the Chairman and founder of the African Leadership Organisation, Dr Ken Giami, stated, “Africa has traditionally been the cradle of great leadership; from Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkrumah, Steve Biko, to Julius Nyerere, the Continent’s contribution to leadership philosophy remains indelible. However, a new leadership paradigm is evolving in the Continent – they are the new Changemakers.” Dr Giami noted that “our nominees are Changemakers, who have chosen to push through with their vision to build and bequeath an Africa that works for all to the next generation.”

His Excellency Dr Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone, was conferred with the prestigious African of the Year Award 2022. Other honorees include Mr Nicolas Kazadi, Minister for Finance, Democratic Republic of Congo; Hon. Lucia Iipumbu, Minister For Industrialisation and Trade, Namibia; Lt. General Yakuba Drammeh, Chief of Defense Staff of The Gambia Armed Forces; Dr Adesola Kazeem Adeduntan Group Managing Director/CEO, First Bank of Nigeria Limited; Mr Ivanilson Machado, CEO, Pumangol; Dr Gertrude Mwangala Akapelwa, Vice Chancellor, Victoria Falls the University of Technology, Zambia; Naseem Lahri, Managing Director, Lucara Diamond, Botswana; Sonny Zulu, Managing Director, Standard Chartered Bank, Zambia; Dr Sibongile Moyo, Managing Director, Nedbank Zimbabwe; Mathieu Mandeng, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank Mauritius.

The African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year Awards is Africa’s premier vote-based endorsement, reserved annually for the leading Africans contributing to promoting the Continent’s progress and positively altering Africa’s perceived negative image. The annual event has also become a platform for honouring people-centred leadership and Africans pursuing a pan-African agenda in their chosen fields of endeavour. This year’s event will provide a platform to celebrate the Continent’s merchants of hope, ready to lead an army of change agents and reformers, to build an Africa that works for everyone.

About African Leadership Magazine Group
The African Leadership magazine is published by African Leadership (U.K.) Limited, a company registered in the United Kingdom. The magazine focuses on bringing the best of Africa to a global audience, telling the African story from an African perspective while evolving solutions to peculiar challenges faced by the Continent today.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Kingsley Okeke
editor@africanleadershipmagazine.co.uk

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Since your first appointment as the CEO of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company in March 2017, you have been credited with several gains that have transformed the company. What would you say are some of your proudest achievements in office and how you were able to achieve them?

Well, as you rightly pointed out, I was privileged to have assumed the position in 2019 after being appointed by the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo and together with the governing board and my team, we set out to achieve two things; contribute towards the successful implementation of the free senior high school programme and how to innovate and scale-up our operations. And we have been able to make some impacts on our modest achievements within the period. We expanded our operations to cover all 16 regions, and we have had our head office building in Accra renovated to befit a corporate status. We increased our staff strength from a little over 20 plus to almost 100, we played a key role in the fight and management of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have helped to reduce post-harvest losses by providing ready-market for our farmers and created jobs for thousands of people directly and directly after re-organizing our supply system.

My proudest achievement however has been our contribution towards the success of the government’s flagship free SHS programme. The then Education Minister, Dr. Mathew Opoku-Prempeh had said it publicly that he feared that “If something could collapse the free SHS policy, it would have been the feeding of the students”, and for us to have run the feeding system seamlessly all this while gladens my heart and it is one thing that keeps me going.

NAFCO has contributed greatly in the area of feeding about 1.2 million pupils daily. How have you been able to sustain this feat?

So as you may know, at the commencement of the programme the numbers were a bit lower but as it progressed it got increased and we are anticipating further increments in enrolment numbers. It has not been easy but with careful planning and regular engagement with all relevant parties, we have been able to sustain the progress.

First of all, we set up a Food Safety Department to work with our Licensed Suppliers and Buyers on the quality side of it. We are particular about unwholesomeness, poisoning and infections or contaminants. After that, we procured Weighing Scales and distributed to all schools to enable them to check quantity. No room for shortchanging.

Our Licenced Buyers go all the way to the farm gate to buy from the rural farmers fresh locally grown and processed food for our children. We act with high integrity in order not to compromise the programme. By working with all head authorities, teacher unions and other interest groups, the food needs of the students are addressed with speed. And this is how we have sustained the programme to date.

What’s your assessment of the contemporary African agricultural environment and how to maximize the emerging resources to ensure food security in Ghana and Africa, by extension?

If Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine War have taught Africa in particular, it is food sufficiency, food security and the need to pay a bit more attention to farming and agriculture. I subscribe findings of recent research by the United Nations which have concluded that” to avoid a significant disaster, national governments and the international community must focus on employment and income protection for those groups whose food claims have been negatively affected, via temporary jobs programmes, unemployment insurance or cash transfers. In addition, there needs to be ready to protect the health and education of members of a household under food stress to avoid long-term consequences of the food shock”.

Again, issues of hunger, starvation and malnutrition go well beyond food systems and depend on social arrangements (including the markets for food and labour, for instance), the economy, and the functioning of the state and governments and that is why a concerted effort by governments on the continent to prioritize food systems and agriculture will be a good decision to take.

You are also known to be a philanthropist with goodwill gestures that have benefited a number of young people in Ghana. Please, briefly tell us about your philanthropic activities?

Through others, some of us became who we are today and through us, others should also become who they want to be, and this has been my guiding principle. I am naturally a compassionate person and the Moslem religion also emphasizes the need to give to those who are in need. So yes, I have been helping people, particularly, the aged, children, the sick and the poor.

I set up The Aludiba Foundation, as a vehicle to basically drive our little philanthropic gestures. I mainly focus on the promotion of education, health and livelihood empowerment mainly in rural communities.

The needs differ with the circumstances. Some require their fees to be paid to enable them to access education, some are worried about the poor nature of the water they drink, and others are concerned about some minimal capital for a livelihood intervention. I try to do my best, to put a smile on my face.

You have been selected by the African Leadership Magazine to receive the Special African Business Leadership Commendation Award, during the 8th International Forum on African-Caribbean Leadership (IFAL) in New York. How does this make you feel?

I am humbled and truly so. I do engage in several projects or initiatives because I feel obliged to do them and not necessarily for recognition, but when they are acknowledged by others, it obviously feels good. Such honours also give us reasons to do more. More for our women, more for the deprived, and more for young people, because as former UN Secretary-General puts it “ have confidence in the young people, give them a chance, and they will surprise you”. I am indeed grateful for this international recognition.

The post NAFCO: Sustaining Government’s Legacy Through the free School Feeding Program appeared first on African Leadership Magazine.

Francophone Cameroon became independent on January 1, 1960, as La Republique du Cameroun. It was the second of France’s colonies in sub-Saharan Africa to be granted independence. The people of British Cameroon had to decide in 1961 whether they wanted to belong to Cameroon or Nigeria. The northern part opted for becoming part of Nigeria, while the southern region formed a federal republic with francophone Cameroon.

Cameroon is a member of both the International Organization of La Francophonie and the Commonwealth; the official languages of the country are French and English. In 1972, the federal system was abolished and a unitary state with a central government was formed.

However, the English-speaking Northwest and Southwest Regions retained administrative, financial, legal, and education systems that were based on the British model.

Two issues dominate Cameroon politics in the 1990s. One is a long-running constitutional dispute between the English – speaking southwest of the country and the French-speaking majority. The original federal structure has been replaced in 1972 by a unified republic.

Towards the end of the century, there is mounting clamour from the Anglophone minority for a return to two federated provinces.

Internationally Cameroon is engaged in a long dispute with its neighbour Nigeria over rights in the oil-rich Bakassi peninsula. There are occasional armed encounters on the ground while the issue is considered by the international court of justice.

Some 20 per cent of Cameroon’s people live in these two regions. Many of them feel discriminated against and disadvantaged politically, economically, culturally, and with regard to the justice, administration, and education systems. When increasing numbers of French-speaking judges and teachers were sent to the English-speaking part of the country in 2016, the relevant professional associations called for protest rallies. The central government used force to squash the protests. As a result, the conflict escalated, leading to severe violent clashes between various separatist groups and government security forces. Both sides have been committing massive human rights violations.

Being Anglophone or Francophone in Cameroon is not just the ability to speak, read and use English or French as a working language. It is about being exposed to the Anglophones or francophone ways including things like outlook, culture, and how the local government is run.

Anglophones have long complained that their language and culture are marginalized. They feel their judicial, government and local government systems should be protected. They want an end to annexation and assimilation and more respect from the government for their language and their political philosophies. And if that does not happen, they want a total separation and their own independence.

Tensions between English-speaking Cameroonians and the Western-Central African nations. French-speaking government stretches back to the end of colonial rule nearly 60 years. At the heart of the tension is the Anglophone’s desire to form their own independent space, Ambazonia. There have been violent clashes and several protestors have been killed, reportedly by government security forces.

In October 2016, lawyers went on a strike in an effort to force the government to stop appointing Francophone magistrates who spoke no English and had no training in common law to preside over courts in the Anglophone regions. During peaceful demonstrations in the cities of Bamenda and Buea, the lawyers were roughly manhandled by government security forces.

Teachers soon came out in support of the lawyers. They wanted the government to stop posting Francophone teachers who spoke no English to teach subjects other than French in Anglophone schools. People across professions followed the teachers, and Cameroon’s cities became “ghost towns” everywhere on certain days of the week as part of a large-scale stay away.

These demonstrations made the government ban trade unions that held strikes. Many of their members, some of whom were engaged in discussions with the government, were arrested and jailed on charges of terrorism and attempts to change the form of the state. The government also shut down the internet and other communication services in Anglophone regions to stop people from sharing information and organizing.

Dialogue and diplomacy are foremost. Cameroon’s leadership must initiate or reinstate dialogue with those representing Anglophone interests. Failing this, the African Union or the United Nations (UN), or both should initiate dialogue.

Cameroon is being haunted by agreements that were never expected, from Foumban Conference to the UN’s resolution regarding autonomy. These agreements must be revisited and respected if the crisis is to end.

The post French And British Cameroons appeared first on African Leadership Magazine.

Algerian law sets the age of 25 to pursue the profession of driving a taxi, according to what was stated in Executive Decree 230 issued in 2012.

According to the figures of the traffic and Urban Transport Corporation of the Ministry of Transport, the number of taxi drivers at the level of Algiers has reached thirty women, and this number is related to those who work legally, as there are women practising this profession in unspoken ways.

Changing circumstances and increased harassment have resulted in the phenomenon of “women driving women” meaning that taxis or “Klundistan” cars are allocated to women and families only, a phenomenon that exists in Arab countries including Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan.

In the province of Tizi – Ouzou in Kabylie region, the “Enas Taxi” initiative was launched in August 2018, aiming to fulfil the desire of the region’s women and girls to preserve their privacy. “The woman generally feels comfortable and reassured when she is riding in a car driven by a woman,” says Enas (supervisor of the project).

In 2018, Elias Mullar launched an application named “Done” meaning colloquially “at full speed” which provided a service of “one hundred per cent women”. He said this service came to fulfil the desire of surfers of the application through social networking sites. They also train female applicants who undergo a training course during which they are taught techniques for using the “Tamm” application and the method of dealing with female clients. The number of female drivers working for the company is expected to increase in the future.

“Klundistan” is an attraction parallel to the women’s services provided by transportation applications, some taxi companies have resorted to employing women drivers whose mission is to transport women and families throughout Algeria. According to Samir Dabbahi (general manager) of the “Siren Taxi” company, which is based in the Douira region (west of Algiers), his company has allocated cars for women since 2017, and this came in response to the requests of people on social media and by phone.

Sirin Taxi, a subsidiary of the parent company, DS Tax, employs four women drivers who have official training certificates including older women with years of experience in driving. And drivers are booked through an electronic application or by phone, and the customer can get to know the CV of the driver who is carrying it by clicking on the box designated to choose between the driver, man, or woman.

On the other, women and girls of different ages and levels of education have stormed the world of “the Klundistan”, and they are eager to provide their services to women by offering offers through social l networking sites or through social networking sites or through employment ads. Osama, who works in a neighbourhood in Al-Shuhada Square in the Capital, prefers that his wife or sister take a taxi or “Klundistan” car driven by a woman.

Although, this is a new phenomenon in Algeria, most Islam-dominated countries face almost similar discrimination when it comes to this profession (driving). However, this is changing as women have been encouraged because they provide, protect Islamization for wives, sisters and daughters.

Some women like Mrs Kawthar F. (40 years old) who lives in the El-Sharaga district (West of Algiers) is into the taxi business. Kawthar selects her clients very carefully, as she refuses to transport “suspicious” girls. So she does not smoke or listen to music in her car and opposes riding her customer’s husband, as she only drives women. But like every job, there are risks with driving especially as a woman in Algeria.

In a push to empower young women, the Sahrawi sisters opened an all-female driving school in Dakhla, after their personal experience of not knowing how to drive. Motivated by this, they came up with this initiative of driving school for just women, for whom getting behind the wheel is still considered uncommon. But these attitudes have started changing.

The sight of women working as bus and taxi drivers in Algeria’s towns can surprise newcomers by suggesting women emancipation in Algeria. Although equality of sexes is enshrined in Algeria’s constitution and women hold senior positions in central and regional government, the courts, security services and embassies. The government says sexual harassment has been criminalized and provisions added to legislation to bolster women’s right.

The wind of change is now in Algeria for women in the taxi business, and if sustained against discrimination women will be free to move without depending on others (husbands, brothers, fathers) to be empowered.

The post Women Drive Women: The Taxi Service Revolution In Algeria appeared first on African Leadership Magazine.

The delegation led by the Minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, highlighted the need to strengthen community surveillance and risk communication as basics in any response outbreak.

Speaking during the National Task Force meeting at the City Hall in Mubende district, the Minister of Health in Uganda, stressed the need to eradicate the Ebola virus.
Mubende said, “Ebola is real, and we need to eradicate this outbreak as early as possible.

The cases we already have in the country are enough and we can’t afford to lose more. Let’s all mobilize our resources being technical, financial, or operational to tackle the outbreak.”

Also, the WHO Cluster Lead for Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases, Dr Bayo Fatunmbi said, “Since the beginning of this pandemic, WHO has always stood by the government to prevent its spread. We have deployed our staff and mobilized operational resources to Mubende district to strengthen the response in case management, risk communication, Infection Prevention, and Control, community engagement, and surveillance.”

Further, Aceng said the team visited communities composed of Community leaders, Village Health Teams, and other members to raise awareness of the outbreak and encourage them to corporate in the response.

She advised, “If you know any person with Ebola or who is a contact, please report. Early diagnosis is very important to reduce the death risk. I want to encourage Village Health Teams to move doors to doors to identify people with signs and symptoms of Ebola”.

The post Uganda: Health Devt Partners Move To End Ebola Virus appeared first on African Leadership Magazine.

In that war, France repeatedly fought on multiple fronts. France fought the Spanish and Anglo-Portuguese armies in the Peninsular war while fighting the Russian Empire at the same time during its invasion of Russia.

Two-front war is a battle of attrition. It takes place on two scenarios and or geographically separate fronts, reducing the odds of success. In World war 1, Germany under Kaiser Wilhelm II fought a two-front war against French, British, Belgian, and later, American forces on the Western Front while simultaneously fighting the Russians on the Eastern Front, until the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 took Russia out of the war.

Germany, unlike the PDP, had foreseen such a scenario; and developed the Schlieffen Plan, a plan intended to ensure German victory over a Franco-Russian alliance by holding off Russia with minimal strength and swiftly defeating France by a massive flanking movement and preempted being surrounded by its enemies.

The PDP soon will transit from intra-party dysfunctional contestation to a full-scale ballot war against itself – the disaffected Governor Nyesom Wike’camp. That alone is a serious vulnerability that has, hitherto, remained a formidable challenge with no easy answers.

Yet, the PDP will rival governing All Progressives Congress, APC, Labour Party, LP, and other fringe political parties over which party and Presidential candidate will occupy Aso Rock Villa, the administrative soul of Nigeria.

The winning stride and public image of the former ruling PDP were rooted in a membership populated by a united galaxy of highly reputed entrepreneurs, technocrats, and retired careerists as witnessed in 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011. At the end of 2014, the party slipped into an internal crisis; and lost, many of her parliamentarians and stakeholders by defection to the then nascent coalition APC, bolstering its capacity to beat the PDP at the 2015 general elections.

Yet, features of the PDP 2015 Intra-party crisis that degenerated to its resounding defeat through sabotage are waiting in the wings.

The PDP presidential primary is the bane of the internal crisis of the party that pitted Governor Nyesom Wike’s wits against the eventual winner and presidential candidate, former Vice president, Atiku Abubakar. The root of the crisis; never was even the defeat but the arbitrary selection of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa by Atiku as running mate in utter disregard to the recommendation of the party’s special committee made in favour of Wike.

Besides, wike in various fora said Atiku met him soon after the primary with a promise that he would be his running mate and again, that the National chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu would resign on his emergence as the standard flagbearer following a predetermined agreement.

Now, Wike holds on firmly to the implementation of the gentlemanly accord especially the resignation of Ayu as a precondition for peace. Wike, now a disaffected Presidential hopeful and Rivers state Governor from the south/south is citing unfairness, injustice, and marginalization from the north against their southern counterpart and stakeholders.

He said the national executive structure of the party is lopsided with Atiku and Ayu coming from the northern part of Nigeria. Appeasement, however, later came with Senator Walid Jibrin who resigned as chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees and in his stead was former Senate president, Adolf Wabara from the south as a replacement.

Yet, Wike is unmoved by an argument that the BOT chairmanship was not an executive position but an advisory.

Not only wike is holding this political position against the PDP and presidential candidate. Some of his associates and colleague governors are involved. Governors Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) are all disaffected with the PDP structure, presidential candidate, and political agenda.
Other former Governors Donald Duke (Cross River) Gabriel Suswan (Benue), Olusegun Mimiko(Ondo), Ibrahim Idris (Kogi), Jonah Jang (Plateau), and former PDP National Vice Chairman, Southwest zone, Chief Bode George.

With the existing PDP rival sub-structure, it is evident the party is going into a two-front political war. Not a few political pundits affirmed that Atiku has not done enough as the number one leader of the party on the ballot. The negotiations held so far were said to be full of inadequate sincerity conventional for untying a political logjam of interest essentially about a party genuinely seeking a return to power come 2023.

Conversely, the Atiku handlers are accusing Wike of overreaching himself, strengthening their principal to back out from further negotiation with the undertone to call Wike’s bluff. In corroboration, former Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose last week told Wike, “For me, I want to believe that His Excellency Atiku Abubakar is not against you. But let me say this quickly, a lot of people surrounding the throne are enemies of the throne.

“A lot of people surrounding the throne have one axe to grind with somebody or some issues with somebody, and they take it to where they are not supposed to take it. There is no living person in the party and outside this party that will not acknowledge your contribution to this party. You are the soul of this party.

“In every political party, there will be grouping, the same family but different interests. We can do better than we are doing. People around the corridor of power, please allow this candidate to win the election. We don’t celebrate victory until it is ours”.

Fayose added that there was the need for Atiku to work to unify the party so that everybody can focus on how to win the 2023 presidential election.

But the reconciliation moves have apparently ended with the appointment of the Sokoto governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as the Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council. And the parties are permitted under the regulations released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to start their campaigns on Wednesday, September 28.

Insider sources said Wike’s camp has started considering options on its gambit to the internal political war. But the Wike disaffected group shortly declared to have distanced itself from the Atiku’s constituted Presidential Campaign Council, insisting that the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Agu must resign.

This was the outcome of a meeting held September 20 -21, in PortHarcourt, Rivers state capital where not a few PDP stalwarts including Wike, Governor Seyi Makinde, (Oyo), former Governor Ayo Fayose(Ekiti), Former Governor Donald Duke(Cross River), former Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), former Governor Jonah Jang (Plateau), Former Minster of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, Former PDP southwest leader, Chief Olabode George, Former Communication Minister, Prof. Jerry Gana, South/South PDP chairman, Dan Orbih were in attendance.

Others are former deputy speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Chibudom Nwuche, Senator Suleiman Nazif, Hon. Nnenna Ukeje among others.

Barely a week from now, the PDP will be seen in a campaign cross-fire preparatory to the February showdown of a two-front ballot war. Having toed this inglorious path in 2015, sources thought the PDP would see its repeat as a political suicide that would most likely yank off the party from the annals of political relevance.

But there has been much public concern about a potential threat to the PDP’s planned two-front war. Atiku, the main opposition leader has an Achilles heel, politically. He had in 2007 after he defected from the PDP, prosecuted a presidential election under the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, with the APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu as his National leader. And in 2019, the Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi Atiku’s presidential, running mate on the platform of the PDP. Even, Wike knows his political skills.

Thus, in this forthcoming election circle, sources believe, Atiku has nothing new in his strategic election surprises to hide from his main challengers and should reconcile with the disaffected PDP stalwarts to win or lose the 2023 presidential poll by default.

The post 2023: Nigeria PDP In Two-Front War appeared first on African Leadership Magazine.

“Values are like fingerprints; nobody is the same but you leave them all over everything you do” according to Elvis Presley.

For companies that produce goods, a value chain comprises the steps that involve bringing a product from conception to distribution, and everything in between—such as procuring raw materials, manufacturing functions, and marketing activities.

Simply put, a value chain is a step-by-step business model for transforming a product or service from idea to reality.

A value chain is not an object that you can see. Rather, a value chain is a useful way of understanding how the world of producing, buying and selling things works.

We are all part of value chains in one way or the other as producers, consumers of goods and services, processors, retailers, finance providers, etc. As consumers, we all eat and we all wear clothes, and so we are linked to many value chains – chains of grain crops, roots and tubers, fruits and vegetables, legumes, oils, and textiles. These chains stretch from growers to our kitchens, eating tables, clothing, and beyond.

According to the World Bank, “Value Chain” is a full range of value-adding activities required to bring a product or service through the different phases of production, including procurement of raw materials and other inputs.”

In Agriculture, the “Value Chain” is the integrated range of goods and services necessary for an agricultural product to move from the producer to the final consumer. The concept has been used since the beginning of the millennium, primarily by those working in agricultural development in developing countries.

At the heart of the agricultural value chain concept is the idea of actors connected along a chain producing and delivering goods to consumers through a sequence of activities.
A value chain encompasses the flow of products, knowledge and information, finance, payments, and the social capital needed to organize producers and communities.

Information is especially important to all value chain actors and flows in two directions: markets inform producers of price, quantity and quality needs, product handling, and technology options, while producers inform processors and markets on production quantities, locations, timing, and production issues. In a value chain, processors and marketing agents may provide producers with finance, inputs, and training in technologies of production.

Value chains may include a wide range of activities, and an agricultural value chain might include: the development and dissemination of plant and animal genetic material, input supply, farmer organization, farm production, post-harvest handling, processing, provision of technologies of production, and handling, grading criteria and facilities, cooling and packing technologies, post-harvest local processing, industrial processing, storage, transport, finance, and feedback from markets.

At one end of the agricultural value chain are the producers – the farmers who grow crops and raise animals. At the other end are the consumers who eat, drink, wear and use the final products. And in the middle are many thousands of men and women; and small and large businesses.

Each person and each business perform one small step in the chain, and each adds value along the way – by growing, buying, selling, processing, transporting, storing, checking, and packaging.

Other people and other businesses have important roles in supporting the chain. For instance, Banks provide loans; governments establish laws and policies, and agricultural research organizations develop ways for farmers to more successfully participate in value chains.

Radio stations also have an important supporting role. Radio can inform farmers about prices, value chain successes and innovations, opportunities for farmers to be involved in value chains, and help farmers understand how value chains work. And radio can also help farmers engage more effectively in value chains.

Radio forms part of the extension and advisory services that support agricultural value chains. An agricultural value chain is defined as the people and activities that bring a basic agricultural product like maize or vegetables or cotton from obtaining inputs and production in the field to the consumer, through stages such as processing, packaging, and distribution.

The United States Agency for International Development defines a value chain as the “full range of activities that are required to bring a product or service from its conception to its end use, including all the market channels available to all firms.” Even subsistence farmers are part of value chains. The vast majority of subsistence farmers grow some crops or raise some animals for sale. Even in the most remote areas, many subsistence farmers are connected to markets, and sell small amounts of their produce in local markets or to traders who visit the farm.

Value chains are all about human interactions. They are about linkages between people and businesses who transfer or exchange products, money, knowledge and information. In an effective value chain, people at different stages of the chain actively support each other.

When everyone in the chain supports everyone else, everyone does their job more efficiently, and everyone’s livelihood is improved. Each person in the chain shares the common goal of satisfying consumer needs in order to increase their own profits. Each value chain is unique, and contains a unique combination of “links.”

In the Tanzania cassava value chain, for example, the farmers who grow the cassava and the co-ops they belong to or sell to, the traders, the processing companies, and the various market players are the primary links in the value chain, in addition to consumers. But there are other important links. These include the shops and people who sell the farmer inputs such as fertilizer and agrochemicals to grow the cassava. There are also raw cassava wholesalers, transporters, and other players. Of course, all links are affected by the national and global policy environment.

The value chain approach considers the role of existing chain actors, supporting actors, and the policy environment. It allows us to look at current challenges in a value chain, as well as the opportunities for improving the efficiency of the value chain and the benefits for everyone involved. From a farmer’s perspective, being part of a well-functioning value chain can bring greater income.

Participation in value chains can help a farmer learn new skills and adopt improved practices. Instead of piling vegetables in a crate and trucking them to a trader or market, farmers can earn more money by doing basic processing on the farm. Even cleaning and grading produce can make a difference. Washing and packaging lettuce or tomatoes and delivering them to a local store or supermarket can earn a higher price. Peeling and cutting fruit can be an effective way of getting into the growing market for ready-to-eat food products near urban areas.

Who benefits from value chains?

Everyone who participates in a value chain adds value as the product moves from the beginning of the chain toward the consumer. In exchange for adding this value, all participants receive an economic rent. That is the main benefit or incentive for participating in a value chain. The people most likely to benefit from value chains are entrepreneurial, have a willingness to communicate with people in different parts of the value chain, and have the farm and financial resources and the knowledge to develop new markets or participate more effectively in current markets.

Benefits of value chains

The value chain framework helps organizations understand and evaluate sources of positive and negative cost efficiency. Conducting a value chain analysis can help businesses in the following ways:
• Reduces workload among actors
• Easy access to agricultural raw materials and finished products
• Support decisions for various agricultural activities.
• Detects points of ineffectiveness for corrective action.
• Understand linkages and dependencies between different activities and areas of agriculture.
• Optimize activities to maximize output and minimize unnecessary expenses.
• Understand core competencies and areas of improvement.

Digital opportunities across the agricultural value chain

A large number of digital technologies have to be scaled up, some of which have been done already. For example, India has now rolled out one of the most efficient soil health management systems of any country. The sector is now looking forward to using a large number of digital technologies at the pre-production stage, in production and in post-production.

Some of the key opportunities that can create value and boost farmer income are:

1. Digital and analytics — Digitisation and analytics will play a critical role in building India’s farms of the future. Potential disruptions that could unlock value through the food chain are:
a. Precision farming includes integrating field data, weather patterns to drive agronomic advice to farmers, and yield forecasting
b. Efficient farm lending with electronic applications, disbursal of loans, insurance pay-outs linked to weather, field data, Direct Benefits Transfer in agriculture
c. Centralised platform integrating farmers and wholesale markets, to provide timely information for price realization
d. IoT-based advanced analytics in manufacturing plants to improve availability, throughput, and save costs

2. Financing and crop insurance — can help in strengthening the ecosystem
a. Provide innovative equipment-financing models to farmers through partnerships with manufacturers, weather forecast agencies, and digital partners.
b. Offer easy financing for FPOs for community infrastructure for storage and transportation.

3. Establishing market linkages between farmers and buyers — This will establish transparency in pricing and better value, especially for perishable products. It could also help to increase farmer incomes by at least 8 to 10 per cent. In addition, it will enable the downstream players to source more effectively by eliminating intermediaries. Farmer–producer organizations (FPOs) are already aggregating supply and supporting farmers toward this goal.

4. Investing in cold storage – Despite current challenges, this segment is expected to enjoy significant growth on the back of rising food demand, supply deficits, and improved market economics. The cold chain market is expected to double in size to reach $7 billion to $9 billion by end of 2020. Cold chain players could invest in alternate energy technologies like solar-powered systems, they can explore chemical treatments to extend the shelf-life of produce, set up pack houses, and reefer transport. They could also optimize the use of existing facilities by opening them up for multiple crops instead of a single crop or product.

However, the chain actors who actually transact a particular product as it moves through the value chain include input (e.g. seed suppliers), farmers, traders, processors, transporters, wholesalers, retailers, and final consumers. So with Value Chain, Agriculture practices have been easier, at the same time promoting the Agricultural sector of many nations.

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