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SASSA gold card migration deadline today

Source: Government of South Africa

SASSA gold card migration deadline today

Social grant beneficiaries who have not yet migrated from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) gold cards to Postbank black cards have until close of business today to complete the process and avoid interruption to access to their social grant payments. 

In a statement on Monday, Postbank said beneficiaries who fail to migrate by the deadline will not be able to access their social grant payments for the 2 to 7 September payment period.

However, the social grant payments will continue to be made into beneficiaries’ accounts, and they will be able to access the funds once they complete the migration process.

Postbank Chief Commercial Officer Thami Cele urged beneficiaries who have not yet migrated to act immediately.

“This is not the outcome we want for any of our social grant beneficiaries. Our ideal is for every social grant beneficiary to be successfully migrated before the commencement of the September grant payments cycle, so that they can continue accessing payments without interruption. We therefore make a special appeal to all beneficiaries who have not yet migrated to act immediately and complete the process,” Cele said. 

Postbank said it was grateful to beneficiaries who had already completed the migration process and would continue to have uninterrupted access to their social grant payments.

Cele acknowledged that some beneficiaries may not be able to complete their migration by Monday’s deadline.

As a result, Postbank card replacement sites will remain available after 31 August to assist beneficiaries who miss the deadline with completing the migration process and restoring access to their payments.

Beneficiaries who miss the deadline are encouraged to visit their nearest Postbank card replacement site as soon as possible.

The card replacement sites are available at participating retail stores, including Shoprite, Usave, Checkers, Spar and Pick n Pay.

Beneficiaries can dial *120*355# from any mobile phone to locate their nearest participating site.

The migration process is free and beneficiaries need to present an identity document or temporary identity document.

Postbank said cards are activated immediately and beneficiaries do not need to visit a SASSA office to complete the process.

For more information, beneficiaries can contact Postbank on 0800 5354 55. – SAnews.gov.za

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SAWS warns of scattered to widespread thundershowers

Source: Government of South Africa

SAWS warns of scattered to widespread thundershowers

A cut-off low-pressure system is expected to bring scattered to widespread thundershowers to several parts of South Africa later this week, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned.

SAWS said a surface trough will dominate the western interior this week, while a surface high-pressure system remains in the east.

According to the weather service, the cut-off low-pressure system is expected to develop over the western interior on Thursday before spreading into the central and eastern parts of the country as the week progresses.

This is expected to result in scattered to widespread thundershowers over Gauteng, North West, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and the eastern half of the Eastern Cape from Friday into Sunday.

On Monday, partly cloudy conditions are expected over the central and eastern parts of the country, with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers possible. Elsewhere, conditions are expected to be fine and warm to cool.

On Tuesday, partly cloudy and warm to cool conditions are forecast, although isolated showers remain possible over the southern parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the extreme eastern parts of the Eastern Cape.

SAWS has urged members of the public and stakeholders to continue monitoring official forecasts and warnings, noting that alerts will be updated as the likelihood and severity of possible impacts become clearer. 

The public is also advised to avoid relying on unauthorised or unverified information sources and to refrain from sharing such information. – SAnews.gov.za

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Call for disability inclusion beyond charity

Source: Government of South Africa

Call for disability inclusion beyond charity

Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Mmapaseka Steve Letsike has called for a fundamental shift in how South Africa approaches disability inclusion.

Delivering her keynote address at the closing ceremony of the 2026 Special Olympics South Africa National Summer Games in Rustenburg, North West, on Saturday, Letsike said society must move beyond charity and accommodation towards ensuring equal opportunities, dignity and meaningful participation for persons with disabilities.

Letsike commended athletes for demonstrating the importance of opportunity, participation, and recognition.

She said the games provided more than a sporting spectacle, highlighting courage, discipline, friendship, determination and joy, while challenging assumptions about what persons with intellectual disabilities can achieve.

“Sport may be the arena in which we have gathered, but the real conversation is about dignity, belonging and equality,” Letsike said.

She said the lived experience of equality remained vastly different for many people, with persons with intellectual disabilities continuing to encounter barriers in education, healthcare, employment and their communities.

According to Letsike, exclusion is often embedded in systems that were not designed to accommodate people with disabilities, including schools unable to support learners appropriately, healthcare systems that fail to communicate effectively, workplaces that have already decided what persons with disabilities can contribute, or communities where disability is still approached through pity rather than rights and agency.

She said the lesson of the Special Olympics is not that persons with intellectual disabilities are extraordinary because they have somehow overcome their disabilities, but that society often underestimates what people are capable of when barriers are placed in their way.

“When those barriers are removed, when support is available and when people are afforded the dignity of opportunity, talent finds expression,” the Deputy Minister said.

Letsike said South Africa’s disability agenda must therefore increasingly focus on substantive inclusion and redesigning institutions so that accessibility and inclusion are incorporated from the outset.

She said inclusion should span the entire life journey of a person with an intellectual disability, from early childhood through education, healthcare, sport and skills development to employment, economic participation and independent living.

“It must also mean that persons with disabilities are represented where decisions are made about their lives. The principle of “nothing about us without us” cannot remain a slogan that we repeat at disability events; it must become a principle of governance.

“Government, civil society, sporting bodies, communities and the private sector all have a responsibility to ensure that persons with intellectual disabilities are not regarded as passive recipients of programmes but as citizens with voices, aspirations, talents and the right to shape the society to which they belong,” the Deputy Minister said.

Letsike also highlighted the intersection between disability, gender, age, geography, and economic circumstances.

She said a young woman with an intellectual disability living in a rural area, for example, may experience multiple layers of exclusion, particularly where families lacked the financial resources required to navigate systems that are often difficult even for those without disabilities.

“If our policies treat people as though these realities can be separated from one another, we will inevitably design responses that miss the complexity of their lives,” she said.

She welcomed the inclusion of Healthy Athletes screenings during the Games, saying this demonstrated that participation in sport is connected to a much broader question of wellbeing.

Letsike said accessible healthcare, early identification of health needs, prevention and sustained support must form part of the same conversation as sporting opportunity.

She also acknowledged the contribution of families, caregivers, coaches, officials and volunteers who support athletes, while stressing that families should not have to shoulder the burden of overcoming systemic barriers alone.

“Our long-term goal must also be to build a society in which families do not carry this responsibility alone.”

Letsike encouraged athletes selected to represent South Africa at the 2027 World Summer Games to carry the hopes of those who competed in Rustenburg, while reminding those who were not selected that their participation remained equally valuable. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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All fuel prices to increase from Wednesday

Source: Government of South Africa

All fuel prices to increase from Wednesday

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) has announced increases for all fuel types from Wednesday.

The adjustment for prices from Wednesday are as follows:

  • Both grades of Petrol 93 and 95 (ULP & LRP): R1.34 increase.
  • Diesel (0.05% sulphur): R2.93 increase.
  • Diesel (0.005% sulphur): R3.14 increase.
  • Illuminating Paraffin (wholesale): R2.13 increase.
  • Single Maximum National Retail Price for Illuminating Paraffin: R2.84 increase.
  • Maximum Retail Price of LPGas: 69c increase and 79c increase in the Western Cape.

“The average Brent Crude oil price increased from 82.37 US Dollars (USD) to 87.88 USD during the period under review. The increase is due to the continued US/Iran tensions, uncertainty regarding the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz and higher shipping costs.

“The average international product prices of petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin increased due to supply shortages caused by continued Russia/Ukraine conflict and lower global inventories of products.

“These factors led to higher contributions to the Basic Fuel Prices (BFP) of petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin by 127.79 cents per litre (c/l) 321.29 c/l and 239.06 c/l, respectively. The prices of Propane and Butane increased during the period under review,” the DMPR said in a statement.

Furthermore, the Rand strengthened against the USD, leading to “lower contributions to the Basic Fuel Prices of petrol, diesel and Illuminating Paraffin by 21.07 c/l, 29.06 c/l and 26.69 c/l respectively”.

The cumulative slate levy amounted to a negative balance of some R9.519 billion for petrol and diesel of at the end of July 2026.

“In line with the provisions of the Self-Adjusting Slate Levy Mechanism, the slate levy of 83.28 c/l will be implemented in the price structures of petrol and diesel with effect from the 2nd of September 2026.

“The Slate Levy has increased by 21.90 c/l from 61.38 to 83.28 c/l,” the statement said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Renforcement de la Securite Alimentaire : Les Efforts du Gouvernement ont Permis de Doubler la Production Vivriere

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

La question de la sécurité alimentaire est une orientation prioritaire du gouvernement qui veille à l’approvisionnement du marché en produits alimentaires tout en préservant le pouvoir d’achat des ménages.

L’agriculture ivoirienne veut faire face aux défis des chocs internes et externes et garantir la souveraineté alimentaire du pays.

Le gouvernement a ainsi mis en place plusieurs programmes d’appui à la sécurité nutritionnelle et alimentaire dans de nombreuses régions. Il s’agit entre autres du Programme de productions alimentaires d’urgence (2PAU-CI), du Projet d’appui au développement du secteur vivrier (PADSV), du Projet d’appui au Programme social du gouvernement (Pa-PSGouv)…

Dans le cadre du 2PAU-CI, par exemple, 1630 producteurs de la région de la Mé ont reçu plus de 2500 tonnes de fertilisants et 62 tonnes de semences. 1470 tonnes d’engrais et 160 tonnes de semences ont été distribuées à 3524 riziculteurs de la région du Gôh.

Les différents programmes ont permis de renforcer l’offre nationale en produits alimentaires et d’assurer l’approvisionnement régulier et sécurisé des marchés ruraux et urbains.

De 2011 à 2024, la production vivrière a plus que doublé, passant de 11,5 millions à 23,6 millions de tonnes. Le taux de couverture des besoins en céréales est passé de 48,3% à 61,5%, et de 79,8% à 100% pour les racines, tubercules et banane plantain.

La production de riz blanchi a triplé de 2011 à 2024, passant de 550 000 à 1,55 million de tonnes. Pour le maïs, le volume produit est passé de 621 790 en 2011 à 1 701 426 tonnes en 2024, soit une augmentation de 173,6%. Concernant le manioc, la production est passée de 2 359 015 tonnes de tubercules de manioc en 2011 à 8 485 694 tonnes en 2024. Le manioc devrait devenir une des principales denrées du 21ème siècle, surtout dans les pays africains. La production de banane plantain est passée de 1,54 à 2,25 millions de tonnes, soit une hausse de 46,1%. La production d’igname a connu une augmentation de 38%. Elle est passée de 5 531 865 tonnes en 2011 à 7 660 870 tonnes en 2024 et couvre l’essentiel des besoins de consommation au niveau national.

Avec plus de 2000 ha de périmètre irrigués, la production de cultures maraichères a atteint plus de 363 000 tonnes. Faisant passer le taux de couverture des besoins de 47% en 2011 à 64,2% en 2024.

Tout en se donnant les moyens d’accroître les productions, le gouvernement veut assurer la mise sur le marché des produits agricoles. En effet, pour réduire les pertes post-récolte estimées entre 30 et 40%, plusieurs initiatives ont été déployées.

Selon le bilan du gouvernement 2011-2025, ce sont 29 743 km de pistes rurales qui ont été aménagées ou réhabilitées.397 magasins de stockage, d’une capacité de 38 000 tonnes, ont été construits, 6 centres de groupage et 15 marchés ruraux ont vu le jour. 2 033 tricycles et 34 camions ont été distribués aux organisations de producteurs pour faciliter l’écoulement des productions.

Cette orientation prioritaire est réaffirmée dans le Plan national du développement 2026-2030 qui consacre son pilier 2 à la Modernisation de l’agriculture, la consolidation de la sécurisation foncière rurale, l’accroissement de la productivité et le renforcement des chaînes de valeur agricole. Il s’agira pour la Côte d’Ivoire qui à travers ce PND vise à être un pays à revenu intermédiaire de la tranche supérieure à l’horizon 2030, de créer des pôles alimentaires régionaux : 5 grands hubs agro-industriels (Bouaké, Korhogo, San Pedro, Daloa, Bondoukou) ; de mettre en place un système national de production, de certification et de distribution de semences vivrières, afin d’assurer l’accès des producteurs à du matériel végétal de qualité à grande échelle ; de mettre en place des mécanismes de financement pour les chaînes de valeur agricoles, en y incluant des mesures de gestion des risques financiers basés sur l’approche AgriTech, de développer l’agriculture urbaine et périurbaine (petites parcelles, hors-sol)…

Il faut aussi souligner que le renforcement de la production permet de créer des emplois durables dans le secteur agricole.

Distribué par APO Group pour Portail Officiel du Gouvernement de Côte d’Ivoire.

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Gabon : Fête de la Libération 2026 : le Chef de l’État assiste à la finale de la Coupe de la Libération

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Organisée par le groupe Fortescue Belinga, en partenariat avec l’Office National de Développement du Sport et de la Culture (ONDSC), cette rencontre a opposé l’équipe de Makokou, dans le département de l’Ivindo, à celle de Booué, dans le département de la Lopé. Le coup d’envoi a été donné par Madame Rita Estelle Milagolo, Maire de la commune de Makokou.

Dans une ambiance empreinte de ferveur populaire, les officiels, les autorités provinciales et départementales ainsi que les populations ogivines, venues nombreuses à ce rendez-vous placé sous le signe du partage et de la cohésion, ont assisté à une rencontre particulièrement animée, qui s’est soldée par une large victoire de l’équipe de Makokou sur le score de 5 buts à 0.

Parmi les temps forts de cette rencontre figurait la remise protocolaire de distinctions aux vainqueurs du Cross de la Libération, organisé la veille dans la ville de Makokou. Cette épreuve sportive a enregistré la participation de plus de 1 000 concurrents, parmi lesquels figurait une participante du troisième âge à qui le Président de la République, Chef de l’État, a remis une distinction spéciale.

La cérémonie a également été marquée par la remise de trophées et d’équipements sportifs aux deux sélections, en présence des plus hautes autorités.

Les manifestations sportives organisées à Makokou dans le cadre de la Fête de la Libération s’inscrivent dans la vision du Président de la République en faveur de la promotion et du développement du sport au Gabon. Cette ambition se traduit notamment par la construction et la modernisation des infrastructures sportives à travers le pays.

Cette politique vise à favoriser la pratique sportive, à contribuer à l’épanouissement de la jeunesse et à promouvoir les valeurs de discipline, de solidarité, de cohésion et de dépassement de soi. À travers cette vision, le sport se positionne ainsi comme un véritable levier de développement, d’inclusion et de cohésion sociale.

Distribué par APO Group pour Présidence de la République Gabonaise.

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Célébration de la Journée Nationale de la Libération à Makokou : Le Chef de l’État honore les vaillants bâtisseurs et célèbre l’ancrage territorial de la Restauration

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


La ville de Makokou, chef-lieu de la province de l’Ogooué-Ivindo, a accueilli les manifestations officielles de la Journée Nationale de la Libération, sous la présidence de Son Excellence Brice Clotaire OLIGUI NGUEMA, Président de la République, Chef de l’État, Chef du Gouvernement, Chef Suprême des Forces de Défense et de Sécurité, Grand Maître des Ordres Nationaux, accompagné de la Première Dame, Zita OLIGUI NGUEMA. Après Libreville en 2024 et Tchibanga en 2025, cette troisième édition confirme la volonté du Chef de l’État de renforcer l’ancrage territorial de l’action publique et de rapprocher l’État des populations.

Symbole de la rupture avec l’oppression, de la reconquête de la souveraineté et de la refondation de l’État de droit initiée le 30 août 2023, cette célébration marque le renouveau du Gabon.

Cette reconnaissance qui est matérialisée par de nombreuses inaugurations et visites de terrain menées cette année dans l’Ogooué-Ivindo. Elle traduit aussi, la détermination du Président de la République à promouvoir l’autonomisation des collectivités locales, condition essentielle à une décentralisation efficiente et à la construction d’un Gabon plus fort, plus juste et résolument engagé sur la voie du développement.

À son arrivée, le Président de la République a reçu les honneurs militaires avant la montée solennelle des couleurs, marquant le respect dû aux symboles de la Nation. La prise d’armes et la remise de distinctions honorifiques dans l’Ordre National de la Libération ont constitué un moment majeur de la cérémonie. La Patrie reconnaissante a honoré quatre-vingt-dix-sept (97) filles et fils du Gabon pour leur engagement constant et leurs sacrifices au service de la restauration de la dignité nationale. Ils ont reçu leurs insignes aux grades de Chevalier et de Commandeur, consacrant leur dévouement indéfectible envers la Nation.

La parade militaire et paramilitaire, très attendue par les populations, s’est ensuite déployée à travers un défilé pédestre puis motorisé. Les troupes, articulées autour des unités de maintien de l’ordre, de combat d’infanterie, de combat commando, d’appui et de soutien spécialisé, ont offert une démonstration de discipline, de rigueur et de cohésion, saluée par les acclamations des populations ivindoises venues nombreuses.

Le défilé civil a pris le relais, ouvert par la brillante prestation des majorettes de Mékambo. À travers deux figures remarquables, elles ont illustré la symbolique territoriale du G6 représentant la province de l’Ogooué-Ivindo et ont rendu un hommage appuyé à la Première Dame, Zita OLIGUI NGUEMA, pour son engagement constant en faveur de l’épanouissement et du développement de la jeune femme gabonaise.

L’ensemble des forces vives de la Nation a ensuite défilé d’un même pas : autorités administratives et locales, corps de santé, acteurs de l’éducation, organismes sociaux, opérateurs économiques, mouvements associatifs, tradipraticiens, groupes socioculturels et communautés étrangères ont témoigné de leur unité, avant le passage très remarqué des membres du Comité pour la Transition et la Restauration des Institutions (CTRI), illustrant une parfaite symbiose républicaine.

Venue spécialement de Mékambo, une délégation du peuple autochtone Bakoya a présenté une démonstration captivante de ses traditions ancestrales. La mise en lumière de ce patrimoine vivant s’inscrit dans la vision du Président de la République, qui œuvre pour la pleine reconnaissance et l’intégration socio-nationale des communautés autochtones, leur garantissant une place légitime au cœur de la Nation.

La cérémonie s’est poursuivie dans une ambiance festive avec le défilé des majorettes de Makokou, dont la prestation dynamique et rythmée a apporté une touche d’élégance et de convivialité.

La journée s’est achevée dans une ferveur populaire, au rythme des prestations et du défilé des groupes de danse tradi-moderne et urbaine. À travers un récit retraçant la libération du peuple gabonais et mettant en valeur l’identité culturelle plurigénérationnelle nationale, l’événement a témoigné de l’unité et de l’engagement patriotique de toutes les composantes de la Nation, avant l’exécution solennelle de l’Hymne de la Libération puis de l’Hymne National.

À travers ces distinctions et ces actes forts de proximité, le Président de la République réaffirme sa détermination à poursuivre l’œuvre de salut public et de développement au bénéfice de l’ensemble des Gabonaises et des Gabonais.

Distribué par APO Group pour Présidence de la République Gabonaise.

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HH the Amir Receives Written Message from Somali President

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha | August 30, 2026

HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani has received a written message from HE President of the Federal Republic of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud concerning bilateral ties and ways to further deepen and expand them.

HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani received the message at his meeting Sunday with HE Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia Hamza Abdi Barre, during his visit to the State of Qatar.

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South Africa’s Global Business Services Sector Presents Significant Opportunities for Economic Growth – Deputy Minister Steenhuisen

Source: APO

South Africa’s global business services (GBS) sector presents significant opportunities for economic growth, job creation and youth skills development. This is according to the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr John Steenhuisen, who was speaking at the official opening of Atain’s new GBS centre in the Cape Town CBD on Friday, 28 August 2026.

Atain is a global customer experience and business process management company that specialises in AI-driven services and digital technology platforms.

Steenhuisen declared that South Africa’s GBS sector was poised for further growth as Atain expands its South African footprint, and reaffirmed government’s commitment to working with investors to unlock the sector’s full potential.

“I commend the leadership of Atain for their confidence in our country, and continued investment in our youth. Their vision for employment, skills development, and the advancement of young people into the digital economy is outstanding. Atain has grown from a 50-person operation in 2022 and is now a significant employer in Cape Town with a workforce of approximately 1 500 people. That will soon grow to 2 100, supported by an investment of R70 million,” said Steenhuisen.

He further said that Atain’s investment demonstrated strong investor confidence and endorsement of South Africa as a destination of choice for GBS.

“We welcome the investment and commit to unlocking further growth in the GBS sector,” he added.

Furthermore, Steenhuisen said the investment also demonstrated the importance of putting people at the centre of business growth, as Atain provides employees with a range of benefits, including incentive schemes, medical cover, funeral benefits and door-to-door transport, supporting the creation of a motivated and productive workforce.

The company’s investment in skills development is further demonstrated through the Atain Academy, which focuses on impact sourcing and deliberately recruits young people from disadvantaged and high-risk communities. More than 350 learners have already received training through the academy, creating a pipeline of skilled talent while providing young South Africans with pathways into sustainable employment.

Steenhuisen said the GBS sector was significant as artificial intelligence and other technologies transform the global world, and South Africa is well positioned to benefit from this growth, supported by its time-zone advantages, multilingual capabilities, skilled workforce and established GBS ecosystem.

“Cape Town remains the heart of the GBS sector, but there are huge opportunities for greater expansion across the rest of the country, particularly into provinces where there are deep pools of untapped talent that can be leveraged to grow businesses within the sector,” said Steenhuisen.

While underscoring the importance of investment promotion, Steenhuisen said that the Atain investment also demonstrated the impact of sustained investment promotion efforts by the South African High Commission in India and InvestSA, which is part of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic). He stressed that both played an active role in pursuing and facilitating the investment, supported by investment promotion engagements, business case development and inward investment initiatives.

In addition, Steenhuisen said as the global economy undergoes rapid technological transformation, Atain’s business model, which combines artificial intelligence with human expertise, demonstrates how South African companies can position themselves to deliver globally competitive services.

“We are here to listen and to use our position within government to co-ordinate other relevant departments, to understand the obstacles and barriers, and to work together to move them out of the way so that we can open up a superhighway of growth, development and opportunity,” said Steenhuisen.

He concluded: “Atain is building more than a business centre. You are building futures. You are building the skills that South Africa so fundamentally needs and, most importantly, building opportunities for South Africans, particularly our youth. InvestSA stands ready to support Atain’s next phase of growth and to work with the broader GBS sector to unlock further investment, employment and skills development opportunities across South Africa.”

Atain’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Amir Bharwani said. “South Africa is a strategic hub for Atain and an important part of our global growth story. We have built a strong presence in Cape Town on the strength of exceptional local talent, and we are committed to scaling our investment further. Our focus is to create meaningful careers, build future-ready skills, and deliver exceptional outcomes for our clients globally.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Department Of Communications and Digital Technologies, Republic of South Africa.

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Ghana backs African Union (AU)-led financing architecture for peace, calls for momentum on reparatory justice

Source: APO

Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to self-reliant conflict resolution in Africa, with President John Dramani Mahama advocating an accelerated transition to African-owned peace support operations to end long-standing donor dependence.

Addressing the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) in Luanda, Angola, President Mahama formally endorsed the Luanda Action Plan and the African Union Trigger Model. He stressed that Africa’s evolving security challenges require proactive conflict detection and quick responses to early warning signals.

“Ghana attaches particular importance to sustainable, predictable, and African-owned financing of our peace and security agenda,” President Mahama stated. “Our task must ensure effective implementation, better coordination, and shared responsibility in maintaining international peace and security.”

President Mahama commended the UN Security Council Resolution 2719 (2023), which provides a framework for financing AU-led peace support operations through UN-assessed contributions. He urged stakeholders to operationalise the framework while upholding African ownership and accountability.

Highlighting financial progress, the Ghanaian President welcomed steps to raise $1 billion for the AU Peace Fund. This milestone is supported by a 0.2% import levy and contributions from private sector players and African financial institutions.

Beyond peace and security, President Mahama briefed the AU Assembly on outcomes from the Next Steps Reparations Conference held in Accra. The conference established key institutional mechanisms, including a high-level Advisory Council on Reparatory Justice and a global expert panel dedicated to the restitution of looted African cultural heritage.

Acknowledging the growing global momentum backed by the AU, CARICOM, and the African Diaspora, President Mahama pointed to historic shifts already underway:

“Many countries have started to address the issue of reparations and are returning looted artefacts,” Mahama noted. “France recently repealed the historic Code Noir, which once provided the legal basis for the enslavement of Africans.”

He also highlighted landmark gestures of accountability, including formal apologies from the Vatican and the Archbishop of Canterbury. During his recent visit to Ghana, the Archbishop announced a £100 million reparatory justice fund to engage local Anglican communities.

Looking ahead, President Mahama expressed confidence that the upcoming 81st UN General Assembly (UNGA) session this September will yield further international support for Africa’s reparatory justice agenda.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.

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