Source: APO
HE President of the High Council of the State of Libya Dr. Mohammed Muftah Takala met on Thursday with HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the State of Libya Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Zabin Al Dosari.
During the meeting, they discussed bilateral cooperation relations between the two countries.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The State of Qatar.
Source: APO
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, receives Amb. Alhaji Mohamed Sarjoh Bah, the newly appointed Permanent Representative of the African Union to the People’s Republic of China.
Discussions focused on consolidating and further strengthening the AU-China partnership, with particular emphasis on the effective implementation of the ten (10) Partnership Actions announced by President Xi Jinping during the 2024 FOCAC Summit. These include cooperation in areas such as industrial development, digital economy, green growth, health, trade, infrastructure, and human capital development.
The Chairperson highlighted the significance of China as one of Africa’s most longstanding and important partners, particularly within the framework of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
The Chairperson stressed the importance of coordination role with the African Group of Ambassadors in Beijing, ensuring that Africa speaks with one voice and that engagements with China remain aligned with the continent’s priorities under Agenda 2063.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).
Source: APO
HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met Thursday with HE Prime Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt Dr. Mostafa Madbouly.
During the meeting, they discussed the cooperative relations between the two countries and ways to support and enhance them, particularly in the fields of investment, economy, diplomacy, agriculture, food security, and social affairs.
Both sides affirmed their keenness to seize promising opportunities to advance bilateral relations to broader horizons in all fields, in a manner that benefits and fosters growth for both countries and their brotherly peoples.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The State of Qatar.
Source: APO
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, received Mr. Ali D. Mohamed, Special Envoy for Climate Change and Senior Advisor to the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Kenya, His Excellency Dr William Samoei Ruto.
Discussions focused on advancing Africa’s common position on climate change ahead of key global forums. The Chairperson and the Special Envoy emphasized the critical importance of a unified African voice to secure climate justice, increased financing for adaptation and mitigation, and the fulfillment of commitments made by developed nations.
Furthermore, the discussions covered strategies for mobilizing support for the African Union’s climate change priorities, and enhancing the continent’s resilience to climate-induced challenges.
The Chairperson assured the Special Envoy of the Commission’s continued commitment to working closely with all member states to ensure Africa’s interests are effectively promoted on the global stage.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).
Source: APO
The Ministry of Finance has announced plans to establish an independent Fiscal Council as part of sweeping reforms aimed at tightening oversight of Ghana’s public finances and restoring fiscal discipline.
Chief Director of the Ministry, Patrick Nomo, disclosed the move at a roundtable on shaping Ghana’s new fiscal authority, organized by IMANI Ghana and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).
He explained that the Fiscal Council, backed by recent amendments to the Public Financial Management (PFM) Act, will serve as a watchdog over fiscal policy making and implementation. The Council is expected to enhance transparency, strengthen credibility in public finance management, and prevent a recurrence of past mismanagement that contributed to macroeconomic instability.
“As part of the reforms, we are establishing an independent Fiscal Council for improved oversight of fiscal policy. We are also introducing enforceable sanctions for fiscal mismanagement and setting new fiscal rules, including a debt-to-GDP ceiling of 45 percent by 2034,” the Chief director said.
He added that the Ministry is prioritizing the Council as one of several structural reforms under the leadership of Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, noting that stability is gradually being restored to the economy.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Finance – Republic of Ghana.
Source: APO
The Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has inaugurated three Technical Committees.
The first to be inaugurated was the Technical Committee on Agriculture Financing, which has been given three weeks to develop a comprehensive policy framework to support financing for strategic economic crops.
Members of the Committee include:
In a related development, Dr. Forson also inaugurated the Technical Committee on the Oil Palm Project, with membership drawn from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Finance, Tree Crops Development Authority, Forestry Commission, and the Environmental Protection Authority.
Similarly, the Technical Committee on the Cocoa Project was inaugurated, bringing together representatives from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Finance, Ghana Cocoa Board, Tree Crops Development Authority, Forestry Commission, and the Environmental Protection Authority.
According to the Finance Minister, the committees are expected to provide actionable frameworks and strategies that will improve financing, enhance productivity, and ensure sustainability across the agriculture value chain.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Finance – Republic of Ghana.
Source: APO
The fourth edition of the Annual West Africa and Sahel Youth Forum was held in Dakar, from 26 to 28 August 2025, under the theme: “Employment and education in emergencies for young women and men: building a peaceful and safe West Africa and Sahel”.
Organized by the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), and the International Labour Organization (ILO), in partnership with UN agencies, the forum brought together nearly 150 participants, many of whom were young women and men, as well as representatives of governments, regional organizations, workers’ organizations and employers’ organizations, civil society, and technical and financial partners.
The Forum was enhanced by the presence of Mr. Assane Diallo, Director General of Youth, representing Ms. Khady Diène Gaye, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture of Senegal, Ms. Barrie Freeman, Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, and Dr. Coffi Agossou, ILO Deputy Regional Director for Africa. They all stressed the importance of placing youth at the heart of public policies and strategies for peace and development.
In his speech, Mr. Assane Diallo recalled that “more than 65% of the population of our West African and Sahelian space is made up of young people” and that this reality constitutes both a challenge and an opportunity. He invited the participants to “make this meeting a springboard for action” and reaffirmed Senegal’s conviction that “the destiny of Africa is played out with and by its youth”.
For her part, Barrie Freeman stressed that “the meaningful inclusion of young people in peacebuilding processes brings multiple benefits: social, political and economic.” She warned against the precariousness that still affects “72% of young workers in sub-Saharan Africa” and recalled that “more than 14,000 schools are closed, depriving 2.8 million children of their fundamental right to education”.
Over three days, participants from 17 countries in the region debated challenges and solutions related to employment, vocational training, education in crisis contexts, migration and the meaningful participation of young people in public policies.
At the end of the Forum, young people adopted the Dakar Youth Compact, a programmatic document that calls for accelerating the creation of decent jobs, while ensuring equitable access to quality education and training in crisis contexts.
“The Dakar Youth Compact, supported by young people, is a clear roadmap adapted to the realities of the region. The ILO is committed to supporting governments, social partners and youth by strengthening employment policies, fostering business growth and developing more responsive skills systems. These commitments are fully in line with the AU-ILO Youth Employment Strategy (YES-Africa), which places youth at the heart of the continent’s economic and social transitions,” said Coffi Agossou.
After the Forum, a delegation of participants presented the conclusions of the conference, including the Dakar Youth Compact, to Mrs. Khady Diène Gaye, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture of Senegal.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS).
Source: APO
The Government of Ghana has pledged to intensify reforms in the gold sector as it prepares for a crucial international evaluation of its anti-money laundering efforts.
At a high-level stakeholder meeting, Deputy Minister for Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem who spoke on behalf of the Minister for Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson warned that Ghana faces potential grey-listing by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) if it failed to meet international standards.
He stressed that reforms in the gold sector were critical as Ghana prepares for its second Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) mutual evaluation by the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA).
Ghana’s gold sector, which accounted for 64% of total exports in the first half of 2025 and contributes about 7% to GDP, is under scrutiny due to issues such as illegal mining and large-scale gold smuggling.
A recent SwissAid report revealed that over 229 tonnes of gold, worth more than $11.4 billion, were smuggled out of Ghana between 2019 and 2023 and and up to 60 tonnes smuggled from Ghana in 2022, the second highest in Africa after Mali.
The Minister called for a coordinated response from financial institutions, regulators, and law enforcement, urging them to contribute to a joint action plan. “Our collective responsibility is to ensure that today’s dialogue translates into tangible progress,” he said.
He indicated that, “Delivering on this agenda will protect domestic revenue, preserve livelihoods, and strengthen Ghana’s international reputation as a responsible gold hub”.
He commended the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) for leading Ghana’s recent National Risk Assessment and acknowledged the support of the UK-Ghana Gold Programme and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in strengthening financial investigation capabilities.
Mr. Keith McMahon, the UK’s Deputy High Commissioner to Ghana, also addressed the gathering and reiterated the UK government’s continued support to Ghana ahead of the GIABA assessment.
“The United Kingdom stands firmly with Ghana in its efforts to strengthen transparency and governance in the gold sector. This is essential not only for Ghana’s economy, but for global financial integrity,” he indicated.
The mutual evaluation, to be conducted by the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), is scheduled for next year.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Finance – Republic of Ghana.
Source: APO
In collaboration with the Sudanese Albeser Ophthalmologists team, successful cataract surgery was performed on more than 400 patients at Keren Hospital between 21 and 26 August.
Mr. Alem Zekarias, Director of National Blindness Control at the Ministry of Health, said that diagnostic treatment was provided to 2,500 patients, 427 underwent cataract surgery, and the others received medicines and eyeglasses.
Mr. Alem explained that although cataract surgeries are performed with internal capacity, the cooperation with the Sudanese Albeser Ophthalmologists team aims to ease the burden on hospitals, as well as promote knowledge sharing and technology transfer. He also urged those with eye problems to seek early treatment and to regularly follow up on their condition.
The beneficiary patients commended the surgical opportunity that restored their vision.
Similar eye surgeries, in collaboration with the Sudanese Albeser Ophthalmologists team, were conducted last week at Adi-Keih Hospital.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.
Source: APO
Mr. Mateos Gebrezgiabier, Acting Manager of the Pharmaceutical and Medical Supplies Corporation of Eritrea (PHARMECOR), reported that the corporation is working to meet the medicine and medical equipment needs of health facilities.
Mr. Mateos said that the corporation distributes imported medicines and medical equipment to health facilities under the Ministry of Health, as well as to private pharmacies, at fair prices. Similarly, the corporation also distributes 35 types of medicines produced by ‘Azel’ Pharmaceutical Share Company.
Mr. Mateos further noted that serious technical, quality, and financial inspections are conducted in collaboration with the National Food and Medicine Safety Control both before procurement and before items are put into service. He went on to say that in the first half of 2025, medicines and medical equipment worth over 8 million Dollars were imported, while medicines worth over 42 million Nakfa were produced by ‘Azel’ Pharmaceutical Share Company and the Orotta Oxygen Producing Plant.
Indicating that in the first half of 2025 medicines and medical equipment worth 351 million Nakfa were distributed to health facilities across the country, Mr. Mateos said that 85% went to facilities under the Ministry of Health and the remaining 15% to other government institutions and private pharmacies. He added that over 23 thousand cubic meters of oxygen were also distributed to health facilities nationwide.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.
