Category: English

Source: APO

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The Ministry of Health, through the National AIDS Control Program (NACP), on Monday, July 28, 2025, kicked off a nationwide hepatitis-B awareness and testing campaign in observance of World Hepatitis Day.

This year’s event is celebrated under the global theme “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down,” with a slogan “Hepatitis Can’t Wait.”

The campaign began today with simultaneous and massive free testing at the Ministry of Health in Congo Town, the Ministerial Complex, and the NACP office at John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Sinkor. It seeks to raise awareness, encourage early testing and treatment, and highlight the deadly impact of viral Hepatitis, particularly Hepatitis B and C, on Liberians, especially young people.

Speaking at the launch of the campaign on Monday, Assistant Minister for Preventive Services, Dr. Cuallau Jabbeh-Howe, issued a passionate appeal to the public to embrace testing as a first step toward defeating the disease.

“We are here today for a very important program. We are celebrating World Hepatitis Week, and today, July 28, is being observed globally as World Hepatitis Day,” Dr. Howe emphasized.

She continued, “It is good for you to know your status so you can better plan and know how to take good care of yourself. Don’t get ill unknowingly. It is always good to know your health status.”

Dr. Howe warned against the dangerous culture of health denial and silence in Liberia.

“A lot of us don’t want to know our status, which is very bad and dangerous. If you don’t know, you won’t be able to plan properly, and you won’t have someone to treat you properly. That’s why today, we are calling upon you to do your free testing so that you can be advised on how to move forward.”

According to her, Hepatitis is emerging as a major killer disease in Liberia, with young people most at risk.

“Hepatitis is silently killing many of our young people and is now becoming one of the top killers in Liberia. So please, get tested. Know your status. Call your family. Share the word,” she urged.

In continuation of the campaign, free Hepatitis B testing will last up to the 31st of July 2025 at the Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, targeting civil servants, government employees, and the general public.

Health workers will be stationed on the grounds to provide testing, counseling, and basic information about Hepatitis B prevention and treatment.

The week-long commemoration is not just about testing, but also about breaking the silence and breaking down stigma, which aligns with this year’s national slogan, “Let’s Break it Down.” The Ministry hopes to demystify Hepatitis B by educating citizens about its symptoms, transmission routes, prevention methods, and treatment options.

World Hepatitis Day is recognized every year on July 28 to honor the birthday of Nobel Prize-winning scientist Dr. Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the Hepatitis B virus and developed the first vaccine for it. The day is used to intensify global and national efforts toward Hepatitis elimination, which the World Health Organization (WHO) aims to achieve by 2030.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Republic of Liberia.

Source: APO

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The Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has been inaugurated as Chair of a newly constituted 13-member Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Working Committee aimed at deepening collaboration between the government and the private sector to fund critical infrastructure and development projects.

The inauguration was conducted by Deputy Finance Minister, Hon. Thomas Ampem Nyarko, who underscored the importance of the committee’s work in the context of limited fiscal space. He stressed that enhanced private sector engagement is now essential to meeting the country’s development needs.

In his remarks, Dr. Forson emphasized the need to reform how PPPs are designed and executed in Ghana. He said the era where government-dominated projects are called public-private partnerships must end. True PPPs must involve real risk-sharing between government and the private sector. According to him, what has been seen over the years does not reflect what a proper PPP should be.

The committee is tasked with streamlining Ghana’s PPP framework to ensure that future projects are sustainable, transparent, and deliver value for money.

Members of the Committee:

1.           Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, MP – Minister for Finance (Chairperson)

2.           Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, MP – Attorney General and Minister for Justice

3.           Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, MP – Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry

4.           Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah – Director-General, National Development Planning Commission

5.           Mr. Simon Madjie – CEO, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre

6.           Mr. Frank Mante – CEO, Public Procurement Authority

7.           Prof. Nana Ama Brown Klutse – Executive Director, Environmental Protection Agency

8.           Prof. Anthony Owusu-Ansah – Executive Secretary, Lands Commission

9.           Mr. Samuel Manu Asiama – Chartered Institute of Bankers Representative

10.        Ing. Festus Ofoli Odametey – Ghana Institution of Engineers Representative

11.        Mad. Nana Oye Bampoe Addo – Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the President

12.        Mad. Shamima Muslim – Deputy Presidential Spokesperson

13.        Mr. Patrick Nomo – Chief Director, Ministry of Finance (Secretary)

The committee is expected to provide technical guidance and oversight to ensure that PPPs are properly structured and aligned with Ghana’s development goals.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Finance – Republic of Ghana.

Source: APO

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The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Dr Zweli Mkhize, has welcomed an investigation into allegations that councillors and other politically connected individuals have been receiving inflated stipends under the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in Matjhabeng Local Municipality in the Free State.

This follows the committee’s joint oversight visit to the Free State last week, where 23 municipalities appeared before the joint oversight delegation. The delegation also included some members from Parliament’s Standing Committees on Public Accounts and the Auditor-General, as well as the Free State Provincial Legislature.

Following the committee’s interrogation of the state of Matjhabeng’s finances, the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Mr Dean Macpherson, announced his decision to suspend EPWP funding to Matjhabeng Local Municipality. The Chairperson said the committee has been aware of the allegations and supports a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder investigation, which combines the efforts of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, the Free State MECs for Finance and COGTA and the Office of the Premier of the Free State. He said during the oversight engagement with Matjhabeng municipality, the committee learned that while the irregular payments involve a limited number of individuals, the complete suspension of EPWP funding will affect hundreds of poor EPWP workers receiving R2 600 per month, many of whom are not implicated in any wrongdoing.

The Chairperson has proposed that stipends be suspended only for the implicated individuals until the investigation is completed. He advised against cutting off funding to all EPWP workers, warning that most participants are vulnerable and depend on the small stipend to make ends meet. “While any abuse of public funds must be met with swift and decisive action, it is critical that investigations are targeted and that innocent beneficiaries are not penalised,” the Chairperson said. “We cannot allow the poor to suffer for the misdeeds of a few. Those found guilty must face disciplinary and criminal consequences, but the programme itself must continue to serve its intended purpose – to provide short-term work opportunities to the unemployed.”

The Chairperson stated that although some of the allegations may be driven by politics or confusion about internal staffing, it’s important for the process to be transparent and based on clear evidence and not hearsay. He further called for public participation and oversight at the municipal level to be strengthened, stating that communities must be engaged in the design and monitoring of public employment programmes. “Mayors and municipal managers must regularly consult communities and account for their spending. Citizens must be given avenues to report concerns and submit evidence,” he said.

The committee will request a consolidated report from the minister, the MECs and the Provincial Treasury within three months. The report must include updates on disciplinary action taken, financial recovery efforts and measures to prevent recurrence. The findings will be tabled in Parliament for further scrutiny.

The Chairperson reiterated that the Matjhabeng case shows the need for constitutional oversight at all levels. “If municipalities fail to perform, provinces must intervene. If provinces neglect their oversight duty, national government must act. That is how the Constitution envisages cooperative governance,” he said.

Dr Mkhize said Matjhabeng provides a chance to set a national example. “We must act firmly against corruption but fairly. Our fight is not against the EPWP, but against its abuse, and we have to protect the integrity of the system while safeguarding the rights of those it was designed to serve,” he said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Source: APO

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The EU-Nigeria partnership was again in focus on July 24 2025, as Amb. Gautier Mignot addressed the faculty, alumni and students of the Lagos Business School (LBS), Nigeria’s premier incubating ground for policy and business leaders, nested inside the elite Pan Atlantic University, Lagos.

The fireside chat themed “The EU as a Trusted Partner for Nigeria and the World” was part of a lecture series that had previously taken the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS to universities in Abuja, Keffi, Lagos, Kano and Sokoto, and still counting. 

Amb Mignot spoke of a complex world where shared concerns are driving fears as many people grapple with challenges of security, poverty, even hunger. According to him, the world needs to perform a triple transition: green, digital and inclusive, a transition already being championed by the EU.

As globalisation makes problems transboundary, collective global solutions also become necessary. “While each nation bears its own responsibility and should not rely on others to fix its problems, cooperation is needed more than ever,” he said. 

Noting that the EU serves as model for collective response to shared problems. The EU network of partnerships across the world aims to extend to the world the same recipe for success. “We think this is in our best interest too: cooperation, equal rules for all, respect for other nations’ rights and legitimate interests, respect of rights individuals and shared prosperity with strong innovation capacities,” Amb. Mignot stated. 

He underlined the EU’s role as a reliable partner for Africa, with significant investments in climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and education. He hailed the EU-Nigeria partnership rooted in transparency and mutual respect. “Your progress is our progress,” he said.

Dean of LBS, Prof. Olayinka David-West, said the theme of the lecture was not only timely but also deeply resonant in a world increasingly defined by interconnected challenges that require collective solution.

“At Lagos Business School, we see ourselves as a convening space where ideas, policy, and leadership converge to drive sustainable development. The European Union’s commitment to inclusive growth, education, and innovation resonates strongly with our vision to develop responsible leaders to inspire Africa’s growth,” she said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Delegation of the European Union to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS.

Source: APO

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Following a press release published on 25 July by the non-governmental organisation MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), mentioning alleged “massive cuts” by the European Union (EU), among other international donors, in the response to the nutrition insecurity in Nigeria, the EU Delegation in Nigeria would like to communicate that this information is unsubstantiated and inaccurate, as the level of EU humanitarian support granted by the EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Office ECHO in Nigeria in the first half of 2025 has in fact been similar to the one provided in the first half of 2024 and, as done in previous years, the EU is working to increase the amount with additional top ups. Like in 2024, a significant part of ECHO assistance in Nigeria focuses on nutrition, health and food assistance emergency. 

The EU Delegation takes note of the revised version of the press release published today by MSF, which eliminates the mention of the European Union when speaking of massive cuts by international donors. While commending the work performed by MSF teams, partly through EU funding, to help malnourished children and their mothers in Nigeria, as witnessed by the EU Ambassador during his recent visit to Sokoto State on 19-20 July, the EU Delegation underlines the importance of communicating verified and accurate information on this matter of utmost importance for the Nigerian people. It reiterates the call launched by the EU Ambassador, during his 22 July joint press conference with the Honourable Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction as well as humanitarian partners to urgently enhance resources from domestic and international sources to address the emergency nutrition situation particularly in North-West and North-East Nigeria. 

The EU Delegation wishes once more to highlight that the EU is keeping its financial commitments and its general level of support across the board in the framework of its partnership with Nigeria.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Delegation of the European Union to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS.

Source: APO

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The mass conviction of opposition figures in Tunisia’s “Conspiracy Case 2” is a new example of the Tunisian authorities’ ongoing restrictions on civic space and erosion of judicial independence and fair trial guarantees, Amnesty International said today.  

The case, based on vague terrorism and state security charges, is the latest in a series of politically motivated prosecutions that appear designed to silence peaceful dissent and intimidate and crackdown on critics of President Kais Saied’s government.  

“This case illustrates how Tunisia’s criminal justice system is being misused to suppress peaceful dissent and persecute people simply for exercising their human rights. The expanding use of counter-terrorism legislation to punish peaceful dissent is a deeply troubling pattern that Amnesty International has been documenting since 2023,” said Sara Hashash, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa. 

“The convictions in ‘Conspiracy Case 2’ are a grave injustice and a blatant assault on Tunisia’s human rights obligations. All individuals detained solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association, and political activity must be immediately released.   

“Authorities must immediately end the ongoing crackdown on human rights including the targeting of critics under the guise of national security and restore judicial independence and the rule of law and put in place effective safeguards to prevent the abuse of counter-terrorism and national security laws as tools of repression.”  

Amnesty International calls on the Tunisian authorities to quash all sentences issued in “Conspiracy Case 2” and immediately release those arbitrarily detained. Authorities must ensure that any new trials are held in full compliance with international human rights law. This includes ensuring that future trials are open to the public, with full access granted to family members, lawyers, journalists, and independent monitors.  Tunisia is a state party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and is legally bound to uphold the rights to a fair trial, freedom of expression, association and liberty. 

The trial took place amid an ongoing rule of law crisis in Tunisia. Since President Saied’s power grab in July 2021, the country has witnessed  an erosion of the rule of law, including through the dismantlement of judicial independence guarantees that have resulted in  increased interference by  the executive in the judiciary and a wave of prosecutions targeting opposition figures, journalists, civil society activists, and former officials, further constricting the space for fundamental human rights and freedoms. 

Mass sentences following a politically motivated trial 

The trial opened on 24 June 2025 and concluded with mass conviction on 8 July of 21 out of 24 individuals including senior political leaders from Ennahdha Party, former government and security officials, lawyers, and other opposition party members. Sentences ranged from 12 to 35 years imposed on 21 individuals.  Only one defendant was acquitted while two others are still waiting on the decision to appeal their indictment.  

Among those convicted was Rached Ghannouchi, the leader of the Ennahda party, who received a 14-year sentence in absentia after refusing to participate in the trial. Other Ennahdha senior members, including Habib Ellouz, Samir Hanachi and Fathi Elbedoui, were sentenced to 12 years, while exiled Ennahdha members Mouadh Kheriji, Lotfi Zitoun, were among those sentenced in absentia to 35 years. 

Flawed evidence and due process violations 

The investigation originated in May 2023, following a report from an anonymous informant who claimed the existence of a covert network led by Ghannouchi aimed at “changing the structure of the state,” with the assistance of former Ministry of Interior official Kamel Ben El Bedoui. The informant also alleged the recruitment of security personnel and coordination with other defendants. These allegations were later supplemented by additional statements from security officials, one of whom was also anonymous. 

The charges were based on allegations of “conspiracy against state security,” largely relying on anonymous witness testimony, intercepted communications, and documents seized during police raids. Much of the material consisted of political criticism and private communications critical of President Saied dating back to between 2011 and 2022, but with no concrete evidence of criminal conduct. The authorities’ central claim that certain opposition politicians operated a clandestine “security apparatus” remains unsubstantiated by any independently verifiable evidence. The prosecution relied heavily on anonymous allegations amplified by state-aligned media and security unions, yet failed to present material documentation, institutional investigation, or independent verification to back this claim. No formal inquiry into alleged wrongdoing has been presented, including during the cross examinations of the defendants. 

Trial marred by serious due process violations 

The trial was marred by serious violations of due process and fair trial rights.  

In late February, the Tunis Court of First Instance decided that upcoming terrorism trials would proceed with detainees attending online from prison, citing the existence of unspecified “real dangers.” The court proceeded to later renew the decision, without further elaboration.  

Hence, the defendants held in pre-trial detention were forced to participate via remote video link, severely limiting their ability to communicate with legal counsel or engage with the court, according to their lawyers. 

Similar to other high-profile cases, access to the courtrooms was tightly restricted under security pretexts, with independent journalists, families, and independent observers barred from attending the proceedings, severely undermining the transparency of the trial. 

“These trials lack fairness, credibility and transparency. The heavy reliance on anonymous sources and secretive procedures makes the trials a sham and the convictions and sentences a travesty of justice,” said Sara Hashash.

“The Tunisian authorities must end their misuse of the judiciary to target political opponents, respect the rule of law and uphold the human rights of everyone in the country.” 

Broader crackdown on peaceful dissent 

The trial took place amid an ongoing rule of law crisis in Tunisia. Since President Saied’s power grab in July 2021, the country has witnessed  an erosion of the rule of law, including through the dismantlement of judicial independence guarantees that have resulted in  increased interference by  the executive in the judiciary and a wave of prosecutions targeting opposition figures, journalists, civil society activists, and former officials, further constricting the space for fundamental human rights and freedoms.  

Background 

Since July 2021, when President Kais Saied consolidated power, Amnesty International has consistently documented an escalating crackdown on dissent in Tunisia. The organization has previously documented how authorities have abused the justice system, including their reliance on vague charges, and severe fair trial violations in cases against opposition figures.

This includes a series of politically motivated prosecutions, arbitrary detentions, and harassment targeting political opponents, independent journalists, lawyers, activists and human rights defenders.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amnesty International.

Source: APO

Two transformative initiatives were officially launched in Zimbabwe, aimed at empowering the country to sustainably manage its soil and water resources. The two projects are entitled: “Capacity Development on Sustainable Soil Management in the Global South” and “National Water Roadmap towards 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.”

These two projects focusing on sustainable soil management and water governance are designed to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through enhanced technical capacity, inclusive governance, and South-South cooperation.

“Water is at the centre of Rural Development 8.0. We are committed to delivering reliable water supply to 35,000 rural communities and 10,000 institutions, empowering development. The National Water Roadmap to 2030 is our guiding framework, aligning with Vision 2030 and the SDGs. Today, we launch not just projects, but a collective pledge to food security, access to safe, clean and portable water for all Zimbabweans,” said Honourable Dr. Anxious Masuka, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development in a keynote address read on his behalf by Professor Obert Jiri, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary.

The sustainable soil management project aims to build national capacities in developing countries for soil mapping and laboratory analysis, while promoting international technical collaboration through South-South Cooperation. It also fosters regional coordination to enhance soil health and biodiversity.

The National Water Roadmaps project will support Zimbabwe in strengthening water governance through raising awareness of water’s value across social, economic, and environmental dimensions. It promotes inclusive governance and cross-sectoral collaboration through country-led multi-stakeholder national water dialogues, prioritizes sustainable water allocation to agriculture, and guides sustainable water resources management to achieve all Sustainable Development Goals.

“These twin initiatives mark a turning point for Zimbabwe. By investing in sustainable soil management and water governance, we are not only improving natural resources management, but also empowering farmers, strengthening food systems, and building resilience against climate shocks,” said Patrice Talla, FAO Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa and Representative to Zimbabwe.

“Through these projects, and with the strength of South-South Cooperation, we are equipping countries with the capacity to manage their resources wisely,” added Talla.

FAO technical support in Zimbabwe and the region

In Zimbabwe, FAO has provided technical support to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development to map priority watersheds, rehabilitate degraded catchments, and introduce water-saving irrigation techniques that boosted cereal yields by up to 25 per cent in pilot districts.

Parallel to our water efforts, FAO has championed soil health under the Global Soil Partnership. In Zimbabwe, this partnership delivered soil fertility maps for more than 200,000 hectares, guided farmers in balanced fertilizer application, and introduced conservation agriculture practices that reduced topsoil loss by 40 per cent. FAO has also worked on upgrading the soil management laboratory and legume inoculant factory to bolster production and uptake of using rhizobium inoculants in production of legumes.

Regionally, FAO collaborated with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to harmonize soil testing standards and mobilized resources under the GEF-funded SOIL Care project to demonstrate climate-smart land management across six member states.

A unified vision for sustainability

Together, these initiatives represent a holistic approach to natural resource governance in Zimbabwe. They are grounded in the principles of efficiency, equity, resilience, and sustainability, and are driven by strong partnerships between developing countries and technical partners, supported by China’s South-South Cooperation.

These two projects are parts of two global programmes on soil and water, and Zimbabwe is the first country to kick off the implementation. Through technical cooperation, knowledge exchange, institutional collaboration, we build a long-term partnership that safeguard the precious soil and water resources for now and the future,” said LiFeng Li, Director, FAO Land and Water Division.

Following the launch event, the sustainable soil management project will convene an inception workshop among key project stakeholders to develop project implementation modalities, decide project sites for field trials, develop project workplan and detailed  budget, among others; while the National Water Roadmaps project will establish a country taskforce to conduct national implementation activities, guided by  technical guidelines and frameworks to be developed by a Global Advisory Group.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa.