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    September 5, 2016
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    G20 agrees refugees a global issue

    The G20 group agreed at their summit in China that refugees are a global issue and the burden must be shared, the leaders declared in a joint communique Monday. “Worldwide massive forced displacement of people, unprecedented since the Second World War, especially those generated from violent conflicts, is a global concern,” they said at the end of their two-day gathering in the scenic eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou. The Group of 20 — which together account for 85 percent of the world economy and two-thirds of its population — reiterated their call from last year’s summit in Turkey for “global concerted efforts in addressing the effects, protection need and root causes of refugee crisis to share in the burden associated with it”. The group called for strengthening humanitarian assistance for refugees and invited all states “according to their individual capacity” to ramp up aid to international organisations assisting affected countries. A steady stream of refugees has flowed into Europe over the last year, largely fleeing the civil war in Syria. EU President Donald Tusk said on the first day of G20 Europe was “close to limits” on its ability to accept new waves of refugees and urged the broader international community to shoulder its share of the burden. The issue has become a political flashpoint for leaders in the region as a series of Islamist terror attacks and rising anti-globalisation sentiment have combined to create an increasingly inhospitable environment for refugees from the brutal conflict. The group’s communique called for increasing efforts to “find durable solutions”, particularly for “protracted refugee situations”. Earlier a senior EU diplomat told AFP that G20 was making a strong stand, and had overcome initial reluctance from Argentina and Brazil on including the issue in the communique, but noted it was not a binding commitment. “There is a difference between commitment and enforcement… at least, it’s here,” he said. “Of course we have to take into account the fact that it is a sovereignty issue… it is not an obligation, but the burden-sharing is there.” The post G20 agrees refugees a global issue appeared first on Vanguard News.

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    September 4, 2016
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    NAF to deploy additional personnel to Niger Delta

    Abuja – The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on Sunday said arrangements had been concluded by NAF to deploy additional personnel to the Niger Delta. This is contained in a statement signed by its Director of Public Relations and Information, Group Capt. Ayodele Famuyiwa, in Abuja. The statement said that it was part of the resolve to combat militancy and other forms of internal security challenges in the region. Abubakar disclosed this in Yenagoa during his visit to NAF Mobility Command. “The planned deployment is aimed at strengthening the existing NAF manpower disposition, especially in Bayelsa and to enhance Nigerian Air Force (NAF) involvement in `Operation Delta Safe.” “Preparatory to this deployment, new facilities were recently put in place to cater for accommodation and other welfare needs of the personnel. “These include the construction of new blocks of accommodation for officers and men, office accommodation, airmen’s mess and provost squadron which were commissioned recently.” According to the statement, two of the airmen’s blocks of accommodation have been named after Cpl. Omaka VI and Aircraftman Ofonih EF, both of whom were killed in Bosso, Niger, during an Internal Security Operation. Retired AVM Larry Koinyan commissioned the newly-constructed projects as the guest of honour. In his remarks, AVM Koinyan applauded NAF personnel for their courage and resounding successes following their renewed vigour at ensuring peace and stability in the various theatres of operations in the country. He, however, called on the people of Bayelsa to support the Federal Government’s effort at solving the problems of the region once and for all. Earlier, CAS paid a courtesy call on Gov. Henry Disckson of Bayelsa, who gave assurance that his administration was ready to partner NAF and other security agencies in their bid to rid the state of criminal activities. Dickson said it had become necessary because Bayelsa government understood the importance of security and the need for the state to be safe for economic prosperity. He also promised that his government would partner the service to build NAF primary and secondary schools in the state to enable Bayelsa people to benefit from the quality education provided by NAF Schools. The governor noted that the discipline and re-orientation of the youth in the state would further be enhanced at NAF base in Yenagoa where the schools would be sited. The post NAF to deploy additional personnel to Niger Delta appeared first on Vanguard News.

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    September 2, 2016
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    Buhari’s administration doing significant harm to economy – PDP

    -economy-pdp/”>Buhari’s administration doing significant harm to economy – PDP appeared first on Vanguard News. “

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    August 20, 2016
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    Why Americans, rest of the world are interested in Ghana elections – Ex-REC Igini

    A former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Mike Igini, was in the delegation that recently assessed the preparation of Ghana ahead of its December general elections. Igini speaks on the mission. You were said to have been selected along with Dr Oby Ezekwesilli and other prominent individuals  by the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI), both of the United States,  to carry out assessment of Ghana  ahead of its December general elections. What was the mission all about? Igini Since  the return to civil rule in 1992, Ghana has been showing good example in West Africa  and has crossed critical democratic thresholds that must be consolidated for other countries in Africa to emulate. The purpose of the mission was to support Ghana’s ability to deliver credible and peaceful elections in 2016. The delegation’s specific goals were to:  Assess the preparation for Ghana’s December 7  presidential and legislative elections; identify opportunities for and potential risks to the good conduct of the electoral process, specifically in terms of pre- and post-election periods; provide recommendations to increase the integrity and transparency of the electoral progress; and promote dialogue among political actors and electoral stakeholders. IRI and NDI  are Washington-based institutions, non-profit, non-partisan organizations dedicated to supporting and strengthening democratic institutions and advancing freedom across the world. IRI works with civil society and religious leaders in Ghana to support peaceful elections through inter-faith dialogue and youth engagement and plans to conduct a gender assessment of women’s participation in the December  elections. NDI has worked closely with Ghanaian civic and political organizations since 1992 to support the development of the country’s democratic institutions and promote transparency and integrity of the electoral process through advanced techniques in election monitoring.   So the visit of the delegation is also in the context of deepening these cooperative efforts of supporting and strengthening democratic institutions and advancing freedom across the continent of Africa and the world. Who are the stakeholders that your delegation visited on this mission? The delegation was a joint team  and we met presidential candidates, political party leaders, women groups, civil society groups like Western African Network for peace-building presided over by one brilliant Nigerian Emeka Eze,   media owners and journalists, head of security, and several eminent Ghanaians, such as Koffi Annan, a  former UN Secretary General, former presidents: Jerry Rawlings, John Koffour, and others too numerous to mention, who are key to   democratic stability and accountability in Ghana. The delegation used the meetings to  stressing the gains Ghana has recorded  and that they should not be reversed.   If you are familiar with the standard measures of democracy, namely, competition, participation and legitimacy of electoral outcomes , you will agree  that they rely on the perceptions and buy-in of the gate-keepers and agenda setters of democratic practice in a country. Ghana is reputed to be the leading democracy in West Africa and many people wonder why there should be a pre-election assessment of this nature undertaken? No matter how mature a democracy may be, as you can see in some countries like the United States, it is not perfect and so there could […]

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