The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a game-changer for Africa's economic development, and Ghana is uniquely positioned to reap the rewards. With a thriving digital economy and proactive government policies, Ghana is ready to embrace the opportunities presented by the AfCFTA's Protocol on Digital Trade.
Advancing AfCFTA digital trade implementation in Ghana
Overseas Development Institute
Sierra Leone’s Atlantic coastline stretches for 400 km and once contained abundant marine resources crucial to the nation’s economy. The fishing industry contributes up to 12% of the country’s national GDP, says the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and employs approximately 500 000 people out of a population of eight million – reflecting its significance in supporting livelihoods and sustaining the economy. Fish is also the primary source of protein for about 80% of Sierra Leone’s population.
Fighting the invisible fleet. Sierra Leones battle against IUU fishing
Enhancing Africa's Response to Transnational Organised Crime
The Guinean junta’s growing repression and intolerance for dissent risk derailing the promised transition back to civilian government while deepening the country’s humanitarian crisis.
A Stagnant Transition in Guinea
Africa Center For Strategic Studies
Private security companies supplement state efforts to protect merchant vessels from piracy attacks in the Gulf of Guinea, yet operations are poorly regulated. Denmark and other seafaring states should call for harmonised international legislation, standardised conduct and the creation of robust oversight mechanisms
Reading of the Week: Vessel protection against piracy in the Gulf of Guinea: a public private hybrid
Danish Institute for International Studies
If nothing is done, climate change could shrink Liberia’s economy by 15% and push 1.3 million people into poverty by 2050. Implementing just a few adaptation interventions could boost agricultural productivity and enhance climate resilience of almost 800.000 people. Priority climate actions will need to respond to essential infrastructure needs, human development promotion, sustainable land management, and climate risk and readiness.
Liberia Country and Climate Development Report
World Bank
A 2021 FAFT report, Money Laundering from Environmental Crime, states that illicit waste trafficking generates an estimated US$10 – 12 billion annually worldwide. Ghana plays a major role in this market, despite not having the means to recycle all the hazardous waste imported into the country. Around 150 000 tonnes of electronic waste each year are shipped to Ghana, legally and illegally
Mining and extractives. One mans poison is another mans fortune in Ghana
ENACT
The Senegalese Armed Forces are recognized for their professionalism, their ethical culture, and their apolitical posture. But how did this culture emerge? How is professionalism maintained? How significant are professional military education (PME) institutions in this process, and how do they help to maintain professionalism? What are obstacles to sustaining military professionalism?
Creating a Culture of Military Professionalism in Senegal
Africa Center for Strategic Studies
In just three years (2015–18), kidnappers in North Cameroon collected ransom money of around €3 million (CFAF 2 billion), according to Garoua police. This crime has soared despite government measures such as military deployment and the creation of vigilante committees.
Ransom kidnappings challenge North Cameroon
Institute for Security Studies
To provide an updated overview of the illicit trafficking of Tabernanthe iboga (‘Iboga’) from Gabon. According to several sources, criminal networks involved on Iboga illicit harvesting, trafficking, selling and distribution are composed mostly of nationals from Gabon and Cameroon with connections to Europe and North America, facilitating the flow of Iboga to satisfy the global demand.
Illicit trafficking of natural psychotropics from Gabon: special focus on Iboga
Enhancing Africa’s response to transnational organized crime
In countries throughout Africa, including Nigeria, Kenya, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Sierra Leone, gangs play a pivotal role in political violence. When they are not perpetrating political violence, the same gangs often engage in a range of illicit markets. Yet, so far, analyses have not adequately scrutinized the link between gangs, political violence and illicit markets, predominantly understanding them as separate phenomena. The intersection between them has been understated, with important implications for response strategies.
Do not come out to vote
Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime
What are the motivations for internal migration, and how do social relations influence the migration process? In answering these questions, this paper focuses on internal migration to Accra, the capital of Ghana. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 20 migrants in different areas of the city and analysed using narrative analysis. We found that livelihood and lifestyle dimensions work in tandem as motivations for migration. While the main reasons for moving to Accra, according to the interviewees, are related to livelihood, they are reflected and performed in culturally bound lifestyles. Furthermore, while social relations are rarely the main motivator to migrate, the social networks of migrants constitute an important enabling (or disabling) factor in shaping both livelihood and lifestyle dimensions of the migration process. Finally, we found that different ties – including emotional and economic – have different meanings across the migrants’ social network throughout the migration process.
The cake is in Accra: a case study on internal migration in Ghana
Taylor & Francis Online
Benin is doing its part to minimise the adverse effects of climate change by adopting a stringent set of nationally determined commitments (NDCs). These include measures to reduce emissions in the agricultural, energy and forestry sectors. The government has made significant progress in meeting Benin’s NDCs since their inception. For example, major infrastructure investments have been made in both the energy and agricultural sectors. Overall, the objectives set out in the NDCs align well with the country’s national priorities, such as improving food insecurity and access to electricity. However, the government’s policy response to COVID-19 showed little overlap with the NDCs. Integration with future emergency policy responses could be achieved by aligning the government’s monetary policy with the NDCs. In particular, liquidity earmarked for the agricultural and microfinance sectors could be directed at projects that advance the achievement of the NDCs.
Benins Nationally Determined Contributions and its Economy
The South African Institute of International Affairs