AFP - Libya has freed 214 Islamists from prison, including three top figures of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, the son of Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi said on Tuesday.

"Today, the Libyan state announces the liberation of 214 prisoners from different Islamist groups among which are 34 members of the LIFG, including the three leaders of the group" -- top boss Abdelhakim Belhaj, military chief, Khaled Shrif and ideological official Sami Saadi, Seif al-Islam told a press conference in the Libyan capital Tripoli.

"With the release of these leaders, we have brought to a conclusion our programme of dialogue and reconciliation," he added, in reference to a policy of reaching out to Islamists begun in 2007 by the Kadhafi Foundation, which he heads.

"Since the beginning of this programme, 705 Islamists have been freed, while 409 are still in prison, and 232 of them will be set free soon," Islam added.

In 2007, Al-Qaeda announced that the LIFG had joined the jihadist network. But last year, the Kadhafi Foundation announced that Islamists being held in Libyan prisons that had previously had links with Al-Qaeda had renounced those ties.

"This is an historic event," Islam said, adding that the authorities would continue releasing prisoners until all those still in jail are freed.

In October, 88 Libyan Islamists were freed, including 45 members of the LIFG.

Islam said a total of 165 security forces had been killed over the years in clashes with the Islamists, while 177 insurgents had also died.

"We are at the point of bringing to an end a tragic period" in the history of the country.

The LIFG had once been directed from Central Asia by Abu Laith al-Libi, one of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's top lieutenants, who was killed in a 2008 US missile strike in the tribal zone of northwest Pakistan.

The group was created in the early 1990s from among Libyans who had been in Afghanistan to combat Soviet invaders in the 1980s and had stayed on there after the Soviets pulled out.

It announced its existence in 1995, saying its objective was to overthrow the regime headed by Kadhafi and replace it with a radical Islamic one

aljazeera

Prudence Mabhena, a Zimbabwean singer-songwriter born with arthrogryposis, is now a star at home, after a documentary based on her life won an Academy Award last month.

Mabhena has long struggled against discrimination, and she hopes the Oscar success will bring a change in social attitudes.

Haru Mutasa has the story.

aljazeera

Al Jazeera has obtained footage of Al-Shabab fighters in Somalia destroying grave sites and exhuming bodies before hiding them.

The graves belong to foreign soldiers and a Sufi scholar. Al Shabab says it wants to rid Somalia of anything that does not fit with its strict version of Islam, but that has put it on a collision course with Sufi fighters.

Al Jazeera's Zeina Awad reports.

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aljazeera

The Nigerian city of Lagos is one of the world's fastest growing, but it is also considered one of the five worst places on earth to live.

Officials say they are doing all they can, but getting around the city is a problem as its infrastructure is at a breaking point. Meanwhile, Abuja, which was made Nigeria's capital in 1976, appears to lack those problems.

Al Jazeera's Yvonne Ndege reports on what is one of Africa's most overcrowded cities.

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africagoodnews

China is opening a factory in Cameroon to manufacturer buses for West and Central Africa. China is Africa's third largest trading partner with a ten-fold jump in commercial transactions over the last decade.

The $500 million factory in Douala is expected to start producing buses by the end of the year. Joining private investors from China and Cameroon, government officials say it will create hundreds of new jobs, ease transport, and boost Cameroon's economic growth as a source of vehicles for West and Central Africa.

'Relations between the two countries are very friendly, and the place, the location is very good because it is a central seaport for West Africa," said Wu Yue, vice president of China's National Machinery Import and Export Corporation.

The factory will give Cameroonian workers important new skills, according to Zacharia Awanga, the deputy chief of International Development in Cameroon's Ministry of Economy and Planning.

"Engineers from Cameroon will be sent to China to start studying the industry of car assembly. So we will start with bus assembly and from then truck assembly with assembly of tractors and other bigger, heavier engines. This will be provided, and we will go progressively. We will start with the assembly of buses from 70 seaters to seven-seater buses," he said.

The agreement also calls for the delivery of 500 Chinese buses in July for use between and within Cameroonian cities.

Its signing came during a visit by the chairman of China's National Committee of the People's Political Consultative Conference, Jia Qinglin. During talks with President Paul Biya, the two men signed a series of agreements including a $65 million grant, a $65 million no-interest loan and the donation of technical equipment to Cameroon's post office.

President Biya says it is a win-win partnership for China and Cameroon that continues a long tradition of cooperation on issues including infrastructure, health, sports, agriculture, and information technology.

President Biya says a new collaboration is now beginning between the two countries as they move to a higher level of cooperation. If this project succeeds, the president says it will help Cameroon become an emerging economy. And Mr. Biya says he is confident it will succeed.

The president says the relationship between China and Cameroon reflects a shared point of view on subjects of international policy.

China has been increasing investment in Africa over the last decade, mostly in mineral and petroleum production. Angola is China's largest source of crude oil.

But Beijing says it is also investing in Africa's people and has boosted bilateral assistance across the continent. Trade with Cameroon which topped just $2 million 40 years ago now tops $800 million.

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africagoodnews

The U.S. National Peace Corps Association has launched a unique Internet-based program that could revolutionize development planning by emphasizing the bottom-up approach.
Young girl waters her organic vegetable garden, Midlands, KwaZulu Natal Province, South Africa

The program, "Africa Rural Connect", is an online global collaboration network where knowledgeable people, including African farmers work together to communicate and respond to the needs of African farmers.

Molly Mattessich, manager of Africa Rural Connect said the network was started as a way for returned Peace Corps Volunteers, the Diaspora and African farmers to discuss challenges and solutions in rural agriculture.

"We know that people who have lived in Africa have some of the best ideas about agriculture and we thought that getting everybody to talk to one another online would be a great way to figure out some of the most creative, most practical solutions to agricultural problems. And then hopefully eventually we can try to implement some of those solutions," she said.

Mattessich said since its inception the program has received many great ideas intended to improve the lives of subsistence farmers, mostly women in rural communities of Sub-Saharan African.

"We had a real successful year last year. We received ideas from over 12,000 people from 180 countries, and those ideas ranged from rabbit farming in Kenya to soy milk pasteurization in Ghana. A lot of people discussed issues related to water resources and reducing post-harvest losses," Mattessich said.

She said Africa Rural Connect is a perfect avenue for ideas for those with interest in the development of Africa.

"A lot of different development agencies are looking for ideas from farmers living in Africa, and we hope to be able to provide resources to implement some of those ideas," she said.

Mattessich said the bigger idea behind Africa Rural Connect is to encourage a bottom-up approach to agricultural development in Africa.

"We think that people on the ground know what the issues are; they know the resources that they have and we really want to understand and work with the ideas and the parameters that are on the ground...So we really want to offer a platform to the African Diaspora and farmers in Africa to share their thoughts," Mattessich said.

She said the National Peace Corps Association has launched a new contest this year for ideas and suggestions on ways to improve the lives of subsistence farmers in Africa.

"We've just started a new contest for this year and from now through November of 2010 we will be awarding cash prizes to the best ideas. So it's a great time for anyone with an idea about rural agriculture and how to make it better to post on the Website," she said.

Mattessich said judges will select the two best ideas and both winners will each receive an award of $1,000.

She said participants can post their ideas on the Africa Rural Connect Website.

"This contest runs through the end of this year, through November and someone can go to the Internet and the Web address is www.AfricaRuralConnect.org and they can become posting their ideas on that Website," Mattessich said.

She said even though not every village or town in Africa has Internet, Mattessich hopes that people can hear about the Website and contact their friends or community members with access to the Internet.

"Some of the areas in which we want hear ideas from people include how to improve communication among farmers, and if someone does not have access to the Internet and they think there's a great to get that access or using cell phone technology, if we can hear that great idea perhaps we may be able to improve online communication in that area," Mattessich said.

20100326

Burkina Faso more than doubled its gold production in 2009, reaching more than 11 tonnes, according to Prime Minister Tertius Zongo.
TertiusZongo
Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, Tertius Zongo

"Industrial production of gold passed around 5,000 kg in 2008 reaching 11,642 kilograms in 2009, which contributes to reinforcing the position of our country as a mining country," Zongo told lawmakers during the State of the Nation address on Thursday night.

While mining had slowed in the poor west African nation due to poor prices and rising mining costs, the Ouagadougou government undertook vast reforms in 2003 and 2006 to make the sector more attractive.

"Thanks to good precious metal prices in the world market in recent years, mining activity and the extractive industry experienced a real surge in Burkina Faso," said Zongo.

Several mining companies from Canada, South Africa, Australia, and Russia have acquired mining rights. The number of titles and authorisations issued went from 537 in 2008 to 599 in 2009, an increase of 11.6 percent, according to Zongo.

He pointed out that between 2003 and 2007 only 350 titles were issued.

Burkina Faso currently has five gold mines in production, including at south-central Taparko and Youga, Mana in the west and Kalsaka in the north. Between them, they have created some 1,350 permanent jobs, the prime minister said.

Two gold mines in Essakane and Inata in the north of the country are under construction as well as a zinc mine in Perkoa in the centre-west of Burkina Faso and a small manganese mine in the Kiere in the west.

All these mines are expected to start production in 2010.

Burkina Faso is also the main producer of cotton in sub-saharan Africa.

Sapa-AFP

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africagoodnews

Interest rates are falling across Africa - South Africa's fell to a 30-year low yesterday, when Rwanda also cut, following Kenya earlier this week - as states emerge from hard times well placed to chase growth.

Inflation risks have eased, giving space for added stimulus to accelerate the recovery from last year's global downturn.

Weak credit demand continues to stifle spending in some countries and indebted households remain a stumbling block for a return to previous robust expansion. Africa emerged from the world downturn generally better than advanced economies and less stimulus during the crisis has allowed for more monetary policy loosening this year to spur a faster rebound.

While rich economies slashed rates to close to zero, African central bank lending rates remain relatively high, some, such as Botswana and Ghana, in double-digits, partly due to the food and fuel shocks of 2008 that stoked inflation.

The South African Reserve Bank cut the repo rate by 50 basis points to 6.5 percent on Thursday and Rwanda dropped its rate 50 basis points to 7 percent.

Kenya also unexpectedly cut its bank rate by 25 basis points to 6.75 percent on Wednesday.

The Bank of Ghana, the central bank of west Africa's third biggest economy, slashed its main interest rate by 200 basis points to 16 percent in February, exceeding expectations, and Nigeria halved its deposit rate to 1 percent earlier in March.

"While the rest of the world mulls exit strategies, recent events have shown that Africa is still well and truly in the midst of an easing cycle," Razia Khan, head of Africa research at Standard Chartered, said.

"Traditionally, Africa's growth cycle has lagged that of the global economy, and even though the transmission mechanism of the slowdown may have been more rapid in the most recent crisis, this still holds true overall."

South Africa's cut takes the bank rate to its lowest level in 30 years, and follows a letter from Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan stressing the need to take growth more into account in policy decisions.

"There are clear signs that the economy has come out of recession, but the pace of recovery is likely to remain slow," Reserve Bank Governor Gill Marcus said in Pretoria after a two-day meeting.

"The improved inflation environment has provided some space for an additional monetary stimulus to reinforce the sustainability of the upswing, without jeopardising the achievement of the inflation target."

Growth was constrained by near record levels of household debt, access to credit and by high unemployment, she said.

Private sector credit demand has been in decline year-on-year since October last year, thanks to tight lending laws and already high debt, while consumer spending is held back further by big job losses.

South Africa's Treasury sees the economy growing 2.3 percent this year after last year's 1.8 percent decline, still well below potential.

Inflation is slowing in most African countries, driven by lower food costs and aided by low risk from price pressures in advanced economies.

Rwanda's inflation slowed to 2.46 percent year-on-year in February from 5.74 percent in December last year, while in South Africa the targeted consumer price gauge, at 5.7 percent, was back in the 3 to 6 percent range a month ahead of the central bank's prediction.

"This new reduction of the key repo rate will further stimulate banks to improve their lending conditions," Rwanda's central bank said. "This is necessary for speeding up the current slow economic recovery, from weak performance recorded in 2009."

East Africa's biggest economy Kenya's central bank said downside risks to the economic recovery called for measures to support growth, singling out soft credit growth as a concern.

"The growth in loans during the period falls short of the perceived private sector demand," the policy committee said.

Khan said the focus was clearly on spurring growth, to take advantage of better world conditions.

"Across Africa, there is a uniform picture in place - monetary authorities are going for growth," she said.

LUSAKA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Zambia's largest nickel mine, Munali Nickel Mine, which is run by China's Jinchuan Corporation, resumed operation on Friday and is expected to reach an output of 750,000 tons nickel ore in 2010.

Zambian President Rupiah Banda attended a ceremony to mark the resumption at the mine, about 85 kilometers south from the Zambian capital city Lusaka.

Banda highly praised the efforts made by Jinchuan, the largest nickel producer in Asia, in taking over the ever closed mine, which led to unemployment of over 1,000 miners.

"I am pleased to know that the mine planned to increase the number of employees once the mine boosted its output," the president said.

The mine is planning to upgrade the mine from the current 750, 000 tons per annum of ore to 1.2 million tons of ore by 2011.

The Zambian leader commended Chinese investment in the country, saying that "the Chinese investors have dedication to develop Africa and we need to welcome them."

Australia's Albidon Ltd, former owner of the mine, halted operations of the southern African country's only nickel mine last March following a fall in metals prices. In June, Jinchuan Corporation, based in northwest China's Gansu Province, took over majority shareholding and invested over three million U.S. dollars in its resumption.

Ore production at Munali in the first two months of 2009 was 74, 000 tons, below the forecast 87,000 tons, mainly due to a lack of equipment

Yang Zhiqiang, president of Jinchuan Corporation, said that Jinchuan will experience a prosperous development in Africa via combination of advanced technology from the Chinese side with the rich resources of the Zambian mine, which was proved with reserves of 100,000 tons of nickel metal.

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africanews

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, has stated that the 2010 MTN-Sponsored FIFA World Cup due for South Africa will boost the fight against racism. Pillay's statement is carried on the UN website on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
South Africa celebrates rugby world cup, photo: Elles van Gelder
The UN official, writes on her release: “the forthcoming…World Cup in South Africa provides an opportunity for a fresh look at the issue of racism in sport, and to enhance sport’s tremendous potential to undermine racism, xenophobia and similar forms of intolerance in wider society.”

According to her, the symbolism of the game taking place in an African state for the first time and in South Africa, where racism was institutionalised is important.

“It is also a factor in the choice of this year’s sports-related theme for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination commemorated every March 21… marking the anniversary of the Sharpeville massacre, when dozens of peaceful demonstrators, protesting against the ‘pass laws’ of the apartheid regime were killed by the South African police,” Pillay states.

While advising sports administrators to copy the example of FIFA and UEFA, credible sporting institutions noted for designing serious campaigns to eradicate racism from sport, Pillay mentioned that “racism within sport remains a problem in many countries…”

She expressed disgust that, in recent years, there have been a number of disgraceful incidents in football stadiums when fans of one team have abused footballers of opposing teams on the basis of their race. “FIFA rules allow for the deduction of points where clubs have not taken sufficient action to combat racism and similar forms of bigotry, but national leagues often shy away from applying these rules,” Pillay observed.

The UN official said consistent disincentives including stadium bans and point deduction must be enforced by football associations and authorities, adding that if not, the lofty goal of eradicating racism in football will not be achieved.

However, she was upbeat that “despite the continuing problems still confronting football, it must be recognised that the sport has, in a number of countries, been engaged in serious decades-long struggle against racism, which has produced significant achievements with the help of some…NGOs initiatives and the active participation of some star players.”

Pillay posited that though players from racial minorities are increasingly being entrusted with captain ban, minorities are still disturbingly under-represented at the managerial level. “The role of sports in changing attitudes towards racism is potentially immense, especially sports like football which attract huge and passionate live and TV audiences.”

She was optimistic the 2010 World Cup will not only be a successful and joyous event but that it will re-energise existing efforts to eradicate racism from sport.

This year’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination had as theme: “Disqualify Racism.”

Ending racial discrimination is a priority of the UN Human Rights Department.

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africanews

Three Ugandan journalists were arrested by the Police over an alleged seditious story concerning the Kasubi tomb fire. The three, Dalton Kwesiga, Ben Byaruhanga and Johnson Taremwa work for The Red Pepper.
newspaper
Their troubles stem from a story titled ‘Police quizzes Mengo ministers over Kasubi fire’, which was published Thursday.

The story said the Police had summoned and grilled Buganda Prime Minister J.B. Walusimbi and other kingdom ministers for over five hours in connection with the fire. The Police dismissed the report as ‘utter falsehoods’.

Confirming the arrests last evening, Edward Ochom, who heads the Criminal Investigations Directorate, wondered what the journalists’ motive was.

“If you read their lead story, everything in it is wrong and we are wondering what their motive was to write such a false story at a time when tension is high,” he said.

By last evening, the three had been split and were being held in Katwe, Kira and Jinja Road Police stations on charges of sedition.

“We cannot sit and watch as people continue reporting irresponsibly,” Ochom said, adding that the trio should have verified the reports with official Police sources.

“For goodness sake, we are here. Why didn’t they, like other journalists, contact us to cross-check their information?”

The Government is still investigating the cause of the fire, which destroyed the royal regalia but left the remains of the four kings, which lay buried there, intact.

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africanews

Somali government forces have destroyed some 500 homes near the main airport in Mogadishu, capital of the lawless and war-torn nation, Somalia, because of security concerns. About 1000 displaced people, who were demolished their houses on Thursday, are homeless and sitting the open in the Afisoyoni village.
somalia refugees
Fatima Osman Ali, a mother of six children told local media that she does not know anywhere to go. “I and my children will be here until we get a home,” she said.

Somali forces demolished the village after Somali president and interior minister signed the order released by Mogadishu's mayor.

Last week, Mogadishu’s mayor was quoted that Islamist rebel group of Al-shabaab could use refugees’ shelters to attack the airport.

More than half of those living in Mogadishu have already fled their homes but those remaining are mostly too poor families to move.

Earlier in this month, the mayor warned residents to flee at least a of couple miles (kilometers) away from battle zones.

The Al-shabaab hardliners linked to Al-Qaeda controls most of southern Somalia while the weak Somali government backed by western countries runs only a little of the country, including the airport.

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africanews

Kenya police have arrested three suspected terrorists as they were planning to fly to Somalia, police officials said. The three suspects who were on board a plane that is carrying aid to Somalia attempted to fly to Mogadishu and were arrested at Wilson airport on Thursday.
kenya map
The suspects identified as Suleman Essa a Somali-American citizen, who is on a terror watch list; Canadian Ahmed Ali Hassan and Kenyan Muhammed Hussein Hash and police arrested them as they are on board a plane carries aid to Somalia, according to AP.

A local Capital fm quoted a police source as saying “The three suspects are being questioned to establish their activities in the country. They are being investigated over terrorism activities.”

“There are no specific charges against these three, but they are under investigation. We will let you know of the progress and if they will be charged in court,” the Radio source added.

Nicholas Kamwende, the chief of Kenya's anti-terrorism police arm, confirmed the arrests but refused more details, AP news agency reported.

Kenyan police also detained other four suspects in the port town of Mombasa on Wednesday.

Last week, a Somali-Australian citizen, who was suspected of terrorism links, has escaped from Kenya police custody at a border police station.

Immigration officers said the man, who was arrested on March 13 at the Busia border post in western Kenya, was missed on Tuesday last week, before the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit came from Nairobi to interview him.

Three police officers and two Busia businessmen were arrested for links with the suspect’s escape, the Kenya Daily nation reported.

The police officers are suspected of having recieved cash from the suspect to release him. The man had $3,400 (Sh258,400) on him when he was seized just after crossing the Uganda border, Daily nation published.

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africanews

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is the idol of a Ghanaian immigrant living in the European country and has named his son after him. Anthony Boahene said he wants his son to go into politics and become a president. He told an Italian newspaper: "I like the way Berlusconi talks, the way he moves."
Silvio Berlusconi
Asked about Berlusconi's tough stance on immigration, he said: "It's fine, laws need to be observed."

Boahene, 36, came to Italy in 2002 according to the BBC. His son was born in 2005 in Accra and has only recently joined his father in the northern Italian city of Modena.

There has been no word from Berlusconi the elder about his young namesake, but his opponents are likely to take the view that one Silvio Berlusconi in Italy is more than enough, the report added.

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africanews

Following bloody fighting between Senegalese forces and rebels, in recent days, the rebel Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) have issued a statement, calling for negotiations with the government.
Senegal map
In a statement released Thursday, the rebels called for an ‘‘immediate cease-fire’’ to enable recommencement of negotiations for a sincere and comprehensive final return of peace in Casamance.

Signed by a rebel representative, Cesar Badiate, the MFDC listed a number of eminent personalities they say enjoy the confidence of Attika (the armed wing of the MFDC) to serve as facilitators of the negotiations, among them former Senegalese Foreign Affairs Minister, Cheikh Tidiane Gadio; Cardinal Adrien Sarr, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Dakar; and the Imam Ratib of the town of Bignona in Southern Senegal, Fansou Bodian.

Other members of the list of possible negotiators identified by the rebels include a journalist and an activist.

The rebel statement however contradicted an earlier statement by Senegalese President Abdoulie Wade, which indicated that it had begun negotiations with the rebel representative, Caesar Badiate.

"We affirm that the statements by the head of the Senegalese government, which indicated that it had was negotiating directly with us, do not conform to the truth on the ground. As usual, the head of state is still abused by his so-called emissaries, "the statement said.

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africanews

As voter registration kicked off all over the country in Kenya, the Internally displaced people, especially in Eldoret were considering to boycott the whole process altogether due to what they term as lack of confidence in the electoral system in kenya.
Kenya refugee camp
This follows the poor management of the last general election by the disbanded ECK under the stewardship of the former chairman Samuel Kivuitu.

It is recalled that the chairman once cornered by journalist during the post election violence to ask who won the election, arrogantly said that he did not know. This leaves much to be desired of the electoral process in this peaceful country, said one of the would-be voters.

The IDPs are not happy not only with the electoral process in Kenya, but also feel they were neglected by the leaders when they needed help. They say at one point when they were evicted from their temporary homes, they were forced to walk for hundreds of kilometres in search of a place to settle and neither government officials nor politicians came to their aid."Why are they urging us to register in large numbers? Isn’t it only because they want us to vote for them again come 2012?"An infuriated old lady asked.

All in all, going by the mood of the electorate as the voter registration and renewal of voter's cards kicks off, in general the Kenyan citizen feels cheated and used by the selfish and self seeking politician.

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africanews

Switzerland has said it will lift a travel ban on senior Libyan officials to ease tensions in a dispute that has drawn in much of Europe.
Libya map
The Swiss government has expressed hope that Libya would respond by ending visa restrictions against citizens of Switzerland and 24 other nations in Europe's passport-free zone.

The Swiss blacklisted nearly 200 Libyans after back-and-forth recriminations stemming from the arrest by Geneva police of leader Moammar Gadhafi's son, Hannibal, in 2008 for allegedly beating his servants.

Tripoli retaliated as the blacklisted Libyans were prevented from visiting countries such as France and Germany.

Libya's restrictions threatened work for Italian and other European companies in the African country.

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africagoodnews

The Abidjan-Lagos transport corridor, connecting the Ivorian capital with Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria along the densely populated coast, is to be overhauled to lower transportation time and costs. Border posts are also set to become more effective.

The grand scheme to overhaul the 998.8 kilometres West African coastal corridor yesterday was granted necessary funding to get implemented. The World Bank announced it had approved US$ 258 million for the first phase of the rehabilitation programme.

The project is to help overhaul the main transport artery stretching along the West Africa coast from Abidjan to Lagos, and the customs and immigration posts and systems located on it. This regional operation aims at helping "improve the movement of people and facilitate trade between the five countries served by corridor," being Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria.

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africagoodnews

The Government of Ghana will soon issue a Biometric Passport to the citizenry as required by the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO).
Passport_ghana
Old Ghanaian passports will be replaced by Biometric Passports

The Biometric Passport has advanced security features which are expected to reduce identity theft and extra fraudulent activities associated with the non-machine readable passport regime.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Alhaji Muhammed Mumuni said this would enhance the efficient management of the country's border posts and ports of entry and strengthen the overall capability of the security services in confronting the menace of illicit trafficking in narcotics, small arms, human trafficking and terrorism within Ghana's borders and beyond.

According to the Minister he has instructed all Ghana Missions abroad to cease forthwith the issuance of non-machine readable passports and send all pending applications to Accra for processing.

He added: "Three Missions in Europe and one in the America have been selected initially to be equipped with facilities for capturing the bio data of applicants for processing and issuing to be done in Accra".

He said the old and new passport regimes will run concurrently until November 2015 when the old passports will be phased out. Alhaji Mumuni said only those in possession of hand-written passports were obliged to change them by April 1, 2010.

With the launch of the new passport regime, Ghana has become the ninth ECOWAS State to issue Biometric Passports as they joined Nigeria, Niger, Guinea, Senegal, Cote d'lvoire, Liberia, Benin and Togo.

A Ghanaian company, Buck Press Limited, has been contracted to produce the passport booklets and also set up the Passport Application Centres (PAC's).

Under the arrangements, Ecobank, the National Investment Bank, the Ghana Commercial Bank and the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) would sell the passport application forms until such time that selected Ghana Post offices would be included.

A Mobile Passport Application Centre has also been set up to facilitate the applications of physically challenged persons in various institutions.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Immigration Service is working with its partners to install new scanning machines for the Biometric Passports at the airports and other ports of entry into the country.

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KIGALI (Reuters) - Rwanda plans to repay France a 3-million-euro debt in the next three years, its finance minister said on Friday, marking the resumption of economic cooperation between the two countries after four years.

French ambassador to Rwanda, Laurent Contini, said his country was planning to offer the central African nation budgetary support.

Relations between Kigali and Paris have been on the mend and French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited Rwanda last month, underlining the importance of Rwanda in the Great Lakes region.

"This agreement is in line with the recent revival of our cooperation with France. The main reason we are signing this particular agreement is to reschedule our outstanding loan," John Rwangombwa, minister of finance and economic planning, told reporters after a signing ceremony.

"Whatever we pay will be transformed into a grant that will be financing some of our development projects in the country."

The two countries broke off diplomatic ties in 2006 after a Paris judge accused Rwandan President Paul Kagame and nine aides of shooting down former President Juvenal Habyarimana's plane in April 1994, sparking off the genocide.

Contini said the grants would help finance a rural electrification programme.

Rwanda is spending more than 60 billion Rwandan francs in energy investment programmes. External financing, including loans and grants, account for about half of the country's budget.