TIG Post

Tag: 2023 Harvard Africa Development Conference

  • Ghana to expand EV infrastructure by converting fuel stations

    Ghana to expand EV infrastructure by converting fuel stations

    Energy and Green Transition Minister, John Abdulai Jinapor, has outlined a government plan to convert several fuel stations into electric vehicle (EV) charging centers.

    As part of Ghana’s broader efforts to embrace clean energy and cut down on fossil fuel dependency, this initiative seeks to establish the necessary infrastructure to support the growing adoption of EVs.

    Addressing an energy policy forum on March 19, Jinapor stressed the urgency of preparing for the global shift toward electric mobility. He noted that as sustainable transportation gains traction worldwide, Ghana must not lag behind in implementing the required support systems.

    He projected a sharp increase in EV usage over the coming years, predicting a major transformation in the country’s transportation sector within the next decade.

    To ensure readiness for this transition, the government is taking proactive steps by leveraging advancements in EV charging technology, which now enables faster charging times.

    “What we are going to do is convert most of our filling stations by allocating space for charging stations. Today, with technological advancements, you can fully charge your car in just five to ten minutes and continue your journey,” he stated.

    Jinapor further announced a collaboration with BYD, a top Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, to introduce advanced charging solutions in Ghana.

    “We are also going to deploy BYD, the Chinese company, to bring in new technology. With this innovation, in just five minutes, your car will be fully charged,” he added.

  • Tensions escalate as police, demonstrators clash in Germany ahead of AfD conference

    Tensions escalate as police, demonstrators clash in Germany ahead of AfD conference

    Police used pepper spray and batons on Saturday to halt a large group of protesters attempting to breach a cordon in Essen, western Germany, where a two-day congress by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is underway.

    It remains unclear if any demonstrators were injured in the 5:45 am incident, but police reported several arrests and attacks on officers.

    Authorities urged protesters to avoid violence and disruptive behavior.

    An estimated 100,000 protesters are expected to participate in demonstrations against the anti-immigration AfD, which has been gaining traction, particularly in former communist East Germany.

    While organizers promised peaceful protests, police expressed concerns about potential violence from around 1,000 leftist extremists planning to demonstrate.

    Approximately 600 AfD delegates are meeting in an indoor arena, with party co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla seeking re-election ahead of next year’s German parliamentary elections.

    Several hundred protesters blocked a motorway exit ramp and occupied streets near the congress venue in an attempt to hinder delegates.

    Addressing the meeting, Weidel criticized the protests as undemocratic and asserted the party’s resolve to continue.

    Several thousand police officers were deployed to ensure security, with a major demonstration scheduled to start at 10 am at the main train station.

    On Friday evening, 5,000 protesters gathered for a music rally themed “Bass against hate.”

    Some AfD politicians reported being escorted by police from their hotels to the venue, while others managed to reach the arena without incident.

    The AfD is under surveillance by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency as a suspected right-wing extremist group, due to concerns over its racist, antisemitic, and anti-democratic tendencies.

    Despite controversies, the party secured second place nationwide in the recent European Parliament elections and first place in the five former communist eastern states.

    It is projected to emerge as the strongest party in September elections in Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg, raising fears of potential coalition challenges for other political parties.

  • Ghana’s financial inclusion reaches 96%

    Ghana’s financial inclusion reaches 96%

    The Ghana Financial Inclusion Conference brought together leaders from the fintech industry and regulatory bodies, recognizing the country’s progress in bolstering financial inclusion.

    Eva Mends, Chief Director at the Ministry of Finance, underscored financial inclusion as a global imperative aimed at ensuring no one is left behind.

    She highlighted Ghana’s achievements in developing interbank payment systems and achieving milestones such as mobile money interoperability, pivotal in advancing financial access.

    “Today we celebrate surpassing our national goal with a 96 percent rate of financial inclusion exceeding our targets of 85 percent. With rapid technological progress and a diverse range of financial services and products, we must continue to enhance financial inclusion to drive our country’s economic growth and development.”

    While Ghana achieved 96% financial inclusion in terms of access to services, the 2022 Composite Financial Inclusion Index, which assesses access, usage, and quality, indicates 52.76% of the population are multidimensionally included.

    Deputy Finance Minister Dr. Alex Ampaabeng, representing Finance Minister Dr. Amin Adam, noted economic challenges were easing and emphasized mobile money’s role in broadening financial inclusion.

    “This call also concise with the period on the global and our national economy, we all believe is bouncing back strongly from the multiple shocks the country suffered in recent years. I believe these conditions are what underpinned the expectations that we can and should as a nation accelerate the scale and quality of financial inclusion in the era of the fourth republic.”

    “It is without doubt that the financial sector is the accelerator of growth for every economy. A well-functioning financial sector is a catalyst for economic growth and economic development.”

  • Some safeguards have been put in place – Head of referees says after Liverpool VAR error

    Some safeguards have been put in place – Head of referees says after Liverpool VAR error

    Head of referees, Howard Webb, has stated that measures have been implemented to prevent a recurrence of the VAR mistake that led to a valid Liverpool goal against Tottenham Hotspur being incorrectly disallowed.

    The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) acknowledged that VAR made an erroneous offside ruling when Luis Diaz scored what should have been the first goal in Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat.

    “Having seen what happened in Spurs vs. Liverpool, we analysed the situation and had a look at what we could do better to put some safeguards in place,” Webb told the TV programme Match Officials. Mic’d Up.

    “We worked hard over the subsequent days to look at what we needed to do to put in those safeguards around the communication to avoid that sort of thing happening.”

    In response to why the referee couldn’t halt the game after play had resumed, Howard Webb explained that by the time both the VAR and his assistant recognised the error, it had reached a point where it was no longer feasible to intervene.

    “They recognised that the laws of the game, set by FIFA and the IFAB, doesn’t allow that,” Webb added.

    “There’s obviously a process in place that sits in the laws of the game… And it doesn’t allow you to go back to those circumstances.

  • Bawumia speaks at Harvard Law School

    Bawumia speaks at Harvard Law School

    Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia will address participants at the 2023 Harvard Africa Development Conference (ADC) which will be held at the Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

    The Conference, which is organised annually by the African Caucus of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and the Harvard African Law Association, will be held on Saturday, April 15-16.

    A statement issued by the Spokesperson of the Vice President, Dr Gideon Boako, on Tuesday, April 11 said Dr Bawumia will deliver the keynote address.

    He will return to Ghana thereafter on Tuesday, April 18.

    The African Development Conference convenes students, academia and practitioners to highlight and explore critical issues related to the development of the African continent.