Africa mourns Dr Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem

"Death has robbed Africa of one of its most illustrious sons.
Dr Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem, a leading Pan-Africanist, died on a very important day in the world calendar — Africa Liberation Day.
This is the day on May 25, 1963, when leaders of 32 independent African States met to form the Organisation of African Unity.

On this day, the world reflects the growth and development of Pan-Africanism to which Dr Abdul-Raheem had dedicated almost all his life.
A prolific writer and an outspoken debater, the Nigerian political scientist was convinced that Africa and its people were capable of solving their own problems.
The United Nations Millenium Campaign deputy director for Africa, died in a road accident on Monday as he drove to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. "

Full Article at the Daily Nation here....

From Wall Street to Accra

"Ms Adjei's story is typical of a generation of young Africans who have been both pushed by the recession in the developed world and pulled by the potential in the developing world

Unlike many world economies, Ghana's has held up relatively well, despite the turbulence of the global recession.

The Ghana stock market was up more than 58% last year while the market in London was down 31.3% and the Dow Jones index of leading US shares was down 34%.

The country has also recently found large reserves of offshore oil, reinforcing the conviction of many young Ghanaians that the country is set for strong growth"

The BBC's Mark Broad writes ........

Zambia Sees ‘Glimmer of Hope’ for Economy as Copper Rebounds

" Zambia’s Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane said he sees a “glimmer of hope” for Africa’s largest copper producer as prices for the metal improve, prompting companies to reopen mining.

The resumption of production at Luanshya Copper Mines and continued output at Mopani Copper Mines Plc was a “positive indicator,” Musokotwane said yesterday in an interview in Dakar, Senegal, where he is attending the African Development Bank’s annual meeting.

Copper has gained 42 percent in London this year, after plunging 64 percent in the second half of 2008. Copper makes up two-thirds of exports in Zambia and the slump in prices slashed fiscal revenue and forced the government to seek more than $200 million in emergency loans from the International Monetary Fund to boost foreign currency reserves. "

Bloomberg's Nasreen Seria writes .....

253 new schools in Eritrea

" The Education Ministry's branch office in the Southern region disclosed that there are a total of 253 new schools from the kindergarten up to secondary level opened in the region over the past 18 years since independence that are providing educational opportunities to more than 153,000 students.

The head of basic education in the region, Mr. Tewolde Abraham, pointed out that the provision of equitable educational opportunities is being enhanced, especially in the elementary level and that active female's participation in education is registering commendable outcome. Endeavors are also underway to boosting student's participation in junior and secondary level, he added. "

Full article at shabait.com here .....

West Africa cable online by 2011

"The US$600-million, 14 000km West Africa Cable System linking southern and western African countries with Europe should be in service by 2011, providing high capacity international bandwidth and further reducing telecommunications costs on the continent.

A consortium of leading African and foreign telecoms operators signed a construction and maintenance agreement with manufacturer Alcatel-Lucent last month to construct the 8.84-terabit-per-second, fibre-optic submarine cable and its landing points."

Full article from SAinfo here....