Ronwen Williams displayed exceptional goalkeeping prowess, making four crucial saves as South Africa emerged victorious against Cape Verde in a thrilling Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final, ultimately securing a spot in the semi-finals through a 2-1 penalty shootout win on Saturday.
The Bafana Bafana goalkeeper’s remarkable performance included a stunning save at the end of normal time, preserving a goalless draw and marking his fourth consecutive clean sheet in the tournament.
Despite Cape Verde creating more chances throughout the game, they were unable to capitalize, and South Africa, the 1996 champions, will now face Nigeria in the semi-finals.
The first half remained tight, with both goalkeepers having little to do. Cape Verde’s Kevin Pina and South Africa’s Teboho Mokoena had opportunities, but neither seriously tested the goalkeepers.
In the second half, Cape Verde’s Joao Paulo and Garry Rodrigues had chances, but Williams stood firm. Extra time saw South Africa dominating, but Vozinha’s superb saves kept Cape Verde in the game.
As penalties became inevitable, South Africa took the lead with Williams saving two spot-kicks. Despite a miss by Zakhele Lepasa, Williams continued to shine by saving crucial penalties, securing South Africa’s place in the semi-finals.
Cape Verde secured a spot in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals with a 1-0 victory over Mauritania in Abidjan, thanks to a late penalty converted by captain Ryan Mendes in the 88th minute.
The Blue Sharks, surprising many after finishing unbeaten at the top of Group B ahead of Egypt and Ghana, will now face either Morocco or South Africa in the quarter-finals.
Despite being second-best for most of the first half, Cape Verde finished strongly to ensure their progression. Mauritania had reached the knockout stages for the first time by defeating two-time winners Algeria 1-0 in their final group game.
The first half saw end-to-end action, but clear-cut chances were limited. Mauritania faced a setback in the 35th minute when Omare Gassama was carried off on a stretcher and replaced by Guessouma Fofana.
In the second half, Mauritania dominated early on, and Souleymane Anne missed a key chance just before the hour mark. Cape Verde then surged in the closing stages, with Garry Rodrigues and Mendes forcing excellent saves from Mauritania goalkeeper Babacar Niasse.
The decisive moment came in the 87th minute when a misplaced headed back-pass by Yassin El Welly led to a penalty. Mendes calmly converted the spot-kick down the middle, securing Cape Verde’s place in the quarter-finals as they saw out 10 minutes of added time.
Ace Ghanaian journalist, Collins Atta Poku, has claimed that theGhana Football Association (GFA) almost sacked Chris Hughton after the Black Stars’ defeat to Cape Verde at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
According to Atta Poku, who travelled with the team to Ivory Coast, the GFA officials allegedly held a long-hour meeting after the defeat and decided to axe the manager but had strong opposition from the government.
Giving an account of Sompa FM, he said the Irish manager was recommended by the government and thus the FA struggled to show him the exit door despite poor results.
“The Black Stars coach was sacked right after the game against Cape Verde. They held a meeting on Sunday night that entered into Monday. When it was communicated to government officials, they weren’t happy so they stopped it.
“Some radical GFA officials alleged that Gabby Otchere-Darko recommended the manager so they can’t sack him.”
Chris Hughton has eventually been sacked after steering the team to an embarrassing exit from the 2023 AFCON.
The Ghana Football Association officially announced the sacking of Chris Hughton and the entire technical team on Tuesday, January 23, 2024.
Ghana suffered yet another group-stage exit from the AFCON after failing to record a win, losing one and drawing two of their three games.
Cape Verde progressed to theAfrica Cup of Nations (AFCON) knockout round, after thumping Mozambique 3-0 in Group B out in Ivory Coast. Mozambique appeared unsettled right from the beginning of the match, committing two turnovers just outside their box in the early minutes of the game.
Their nervousness proved detrimental as, in the 32nd minute, Tiago Manuel Dias Correia (commonly known as Bebe) unleashed a powerful shot into the back of the net, giving his team the lead heading into halftime.
In the second half, Mozambique faced a further setback when Kaizer Chiefs defender Edmilson Dove lost possession, allowing Ryan Mendes to extend the Blue Sharks’ lead.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ml1pI7s9GA
The situation escalated for the Mambas when Kevin Pina’s powerful strike from outside the box in the 69th minute extended the lead to three on the scoreboard and ensured that they became the first nation to progress to the knockout stage.
The Blue Sharks have maintained a threatening presence in the early stages of Afcon, and their supporters can take pride in how the team has composed themselves against their opponents.
The Mambas faced difficulties finding their rhythm and appeared a shadow of themselves after securing a 2-2 draw against Egypt.
They will head back to the drawing board, aiming to make adjustments ahead of their final group match. Cape Verde are set to faceEgypt on Monday, January 22.
While, Mozambique will go up against Ghana on the same day.
In a heartwarming display of familial support, the wife and children of Black Stars player Dennis Odoi were at the stadium on Sunday, January 14, 2024, to cheer him on as the national team faced a challenging match against the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde.
A video circulating on social media captured the family’s presence at the stadium. In the footage, the player’s wife, along with his father and children, can be seen proudly donning Black Stars jerseys, symbolizing their united support for Odoi during the game.
Dennis Odoi’s wife, kids and father in law were present at the stadium in Abidjan to see him play trash.
The Black Stars faced a challenging match that resulted in an unexpected defeat. Cape Verde scored the first goal in the game, however, the Black Stars equalised but Cape Verde later scored their second goal few minutes to the end of the game.
Mr Ayew holds the view that lack of experience on the part of most of the players who played yesterday’s match accounted for their defeat.
“We lack a lot of experience. I know you can say anything but at the end of the day when you look at the squad, more than ten it’s their first AFCON,” he stated.
Regardless, he entreated the players to get over the defeat, get back up and do their better in their subsequent games.
“The AFCON is there, it’s not waiting for anyone. It’s not easy, it’s hard and we are men, we need to stand up and face the reality,” he said.
A member of the Ghanaian supporters in Abidjan has been apprehended for assaulting coach Chris Hughton at the team’s hotel, following Ghana’s defeat to Cape Verde in the 2023 AFCON tournament in Ivory Coast.
Sports journalist Saddick Adams reported the incident, noting the intervention of Ghanaian diplomats to save the coach. The unidentified assailant has been handed over to the Ivorian Police.
In the opening match of the 2023 AFCON, Cape Verde secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Ghana, with a late goal by substitute Gary Rodrigues. Despite Ghana’s strong second-half comeback, defensive lapses allowed Cape Verde to seal the win.
The defeat poses a challenge for Ghana, who will face Egypt in their next match on January 18.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAK: One member of the Ghanaian supporters in Abidjan has been arrested for an attack on coach Chris Hughton at the team’s hotel.<br><br>It took the intervention of some Ghanaian diplomats who were around to save the coach.<br><br>The unidentified man has been handed to the Ivorian Police.</p>— Saddick Adams (@SaddickAdams) <a href="https://twitter.com/SaddickAdams/status/1746681685054238789?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Jordan Ayew has attributed Ghana’s defeat to Cape Verde in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations to a “lack of experience” in the team.
The Black Stars, with a squad featuring 19 players making their AFCON debut, suffered a 2-1 loss to the Blue Sharks.
Ayew suggests that the team’s inexperience played a role in the disappointing performance in their opening game of the tournament.
“We lack a lot of experience…,” the Crystal Palace forward said.
“At the end of the day, if you look at the squad that we have, more than 10 [players], this is their first AFCON so this type of mistakes will happen and we need to learn and we need to learn quick because the AFCON is not waiting for anyone…we need to stand up and face the reality.”
Ghana will face Egypt in their next game, and both teams are eager for a win following their respective outcomes in the opening matches of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
After drawing with Mozambique, Egypt is also looking to secure a victory. Cape Verde currently leads Group B, while Ghana finds itself at the bottom of the standings after the initial round of games.
Ghana’s disappointing start in the AFCON yesterday appears to have ‘broken’ several Ghanaians, with many venting their displeasure and anger on social media.
Cape Verde secured a win against the Black Stars in injury time, ending the Black Stars’ 2-1 loss to Cape Verde.
Whereas some netizens, including Ghanaian dancehall artiste Shatta Wale, jabbed the players to change the name Black Stars to Black Soil, others, such as outspoken journalists Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo, fumed at Black Stars coach Chris Hughton for what he describes as “poor selection, substitutions and overall poor game management.”.
He said, “This is on Chris Hughton! Poor selection, poor substitutions and overall poor game management. He settled for a draw, a long way from full time, instead of looking for a win. We’ve fallen off so badly!” Fentuo said.
This is on Chris Hughton!
Poor selection, poor substitutions and overall poor game management.
He settled for a draw a long way from full time, instead of looking for a win.
However, the journalist expressed optimism over Ghana’s win in its clash with Egypt on Thursday, April 18, 2024.
During an interview earlier today, January 15, 2024, he mentioned that “Ghana shall not lose to Egypt and if the Black Stars indeed win against Egypt, he should be called “Abiba” and also be coerced to sing Rex Omar’s popular song “Abiba.”
Fentuo is one of the many celebrities who have expressed their discontent and agitation over the Black Stars ‘heart-breaking’ start in the AFCON.
In a video commentary, Shatta Wale argued that the team’s name, ‘Black Stars,’ should be substituted with ‘Black Soil,’ indicating his belief that the squad may not achieve significant success, contrary to their past performances in the tournament.
“How can a star be black? Name the team Black Soil so they can at least produce something because black soils are the best.”
A member of the Ghanaian supporters in Abidjan has been arrested for an attack on coach Chris Hughton at the team’s hotel, according to reports from sports journalist, Saddick Adams.
It is believed that the attack on Mr Hughton took place after Ghana’s defeat to Cape Verde on Sunday during the 2023 AFCON tournament in Ivory Coast.
In a post on X, Saddick noted that it took the intervention of some Ghanaian diplomats who were around to save the coach.
BREAK: One member of the Ghanaian supporters in Abidjan has been arrested for an attack on coach Chris Hughton at the team’s hotel.
It took the intervention of some Ghanaian diplomats who were around to save the coach.
The unidentified man has been handed to the Ivorian Police.
In the opening match of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Cape Verde secured a dramatic victory over Ghana with a late goal by substitute Gary Rodrigues.
The match, initially balanced, took an unexpected turn as Jameiro Monteiro capitalized on a rebound after 17 minutes, putting Cape Verde in the lead with a 1-0 advantage.
Despite the early setback, Ghana pressed forward, and Majeed Ashimeru thought he had equalized with a brilliant strike, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside, as Ransford-Yeboah was deemed to have interfered with the goalkeeper’s line of sight.
Gary Rodrigues makes Cape Verde shine
Trailing at halftime, Ghana made a strong comeback in the second half, with Fenerbahce’s central defender Djiku leveling the score from a Jordan Ayew corner. Djiku’s heroics continued with two crucial goal-saving clearances that kept the Black Stars in the game.
However, Cape Verde capitalized on a moment of defensive lapses from Ghana, as Gary Rodrigues scored in added time to seal a 2-1 victory for the Blue Sharks. Despite goalkeeper Richard Ofori’s efforts in the final 10 minutes, Ghana couldn’t overturn the deficit.
The defeat leaves Ghana with a challenging task ahead, as they now look to bounce back against Egypt in their next match on January 18.
In the opening match of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Cape Verde secured a dramatic victory over Ghana with a late goal by substitute Gary Rodrigues.
The match, initially balanced, took an unexpected turn as Jameiro Monteiro capitalized on a rebound after 17 minutes, putting Cape Verde in the lead with a 1-0 advantage.
Despite the early setback, Ghana pressed forward, and Majeed Ashimeru thought he had equalized with a brilliant strike, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside, as Ransford-Yeboah was deemed to have interfered with the goalkeeper’s line of sight.
Gary Rodrigues makes Cape Verde shine
Trailing at halftime, Ghana made a strong comeback in the second half, with Fenerbahce’s central defender Djiku leveling the score from a Jordan Ayew corner. Djiku’s heroics continued with two crucial goal-saving clearances that kept the Black Stars in the game.
However, Cape Verde capitalized on a moment of defensive lapses from Ghana, as Gary Rodrigues scored in added time to seal a 2-1 victory for the Blue Sharks. Despite goalkeeper Richard Ofori’s efforts in the final 10 minutes, Ghana couldn’t overturn the deficit.
The defeat leaves Ghana with a challenging task ahead, as they now look to bounce back against Egypt in their next match on January 18.
A country in Africa has been declared free from malaria for the first time in 50 years.
Cape Verde got a special status from the World Health Organization (WHO) because it hasn’t had any local transmission of a disease for three years.
Experts say this is a big accomplishment.
Malaria kills a lot of people in Africa. In 2022, 580,000 people died from the disease in Africa, which is 95% of all the deaths around the world.
The sickness is because of a complicated germ that is passed on by mosquito bites.
Some places are using vaccines to prevent malaria, but the best way to stop the disease is to keep an eye on it and avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes.
Cape Verde, a tiny group of islands near West Africa, has worked for many years to improve its health care and make sure everyone can get diagnosed and treated for illnesses.
The surveillance officers have been finding and controlling cases of diseases early, and also getting rid of mosquitoes.
Cape Verde has a plan to control malaria. They provide free care and testing for people from other countries who come to visit or move there. They want to stop the spread of malaria from Africa to Cape Verde.
This success shows how many health professionals, collaborators, communities, and international partners worked hard and were dedicated to the cause. “Cape Verde’s Health Minister, Dr. Filomena Gonçalves, told the BBC that it shows what can be done when people work together to make public health better. ”
Dr Dorothy Achu Fosah, from the WHO Africa office, said her organization is happy with the results and with the fact that malaria has been eliminated from the country.
Health experts say that Cape Verde has done an impressive job in controlling and getting rid of a disease. Other small countries can learn from their success and see that their methods can be effective.
Malaria used to be on all of Cape Verde’s nine inhabited islands, but now it’s only on one island, Sáo Tiago. The last efforts to get rid of it are focused there.
DrAchu from the WHO said that the country being made up of many islands is also a big reason for its success.
It’s easier to track the spread of the disease on an island compared to a big piece of land.
In Nigeria, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, many people move between countries, which makes it hard for one country to get rid of the disease by itself.
DrTedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization, said that Cape Verde’s success in fighting malaria gives us hope that we can use tools, including vaccines, to dream of a world without malaria.
Mauritius, an island nation in Africa, was the last country in sub-Saharan Africa to be declared free from malaria in 1973. Algeria, in the northern part of Africa, got this title in 2019.
A boat carrying migrants was discovered off the coast of Cape Verde, shocking and infuriating residents of the small Senegalese fishing village of Fass Boye. More than 60 people are thought to be deceased.
Student Moussa Diop, who resides here, revealed to the media that he was travelling on the boat that departed in secret last month with three male cousins and a teenage nephew. Since her son vanished last month, his sister, who had no knowledge he was on the boat, has been in a dire situation.
The family learned of their tragic journey for the first time on Wednesday when one of the cousins sent Mr. Diop a WhatsApp video from Sal informing him that three of them had survived and were in the hospital, but one of the young cousins had passed away.
Mr. Diop claims that relief over those who have survived and grief for lost relatives have overflowed into frustration.
Following the tragedy’s discovery on Wednesday, residents of the town started to vandalise cars and boats, and they also set fire to the mayor’s residence.
Young people lament a lack of chances and demand more assistance from the state.
After a boat carrying migrants was discovered off the coast of Cape Verde in West Africa, it is believed that more than 60 people are dead.
Video of the 38 rescues, some of whom were carried ashore on stretchers, showed that they included youngsters.
It is believed that almost everyone on board the boat, which was at sea for more than a month, was from Senegal.
To help stop more deaths, Cape Verde officials have asked for international action on migration.
Police informed the AFP news agency that the vessel was initially noticed on Monday. Although initial reports claimed the boat had sunk, it was later revealed that it had been discovered adrift.
A Spanish fishing boat saw the wooden pirogue-style boat some 320 kilometres (200 miles) off Sal, in the Cape Verde islands, and immediately contacted the authorities, according to the police.
Four children, ages 12 to 16, are among the survivors, according to an International Organisation for Migration (IOM) official.
The boat departed the Senegalese fishing community of Fasse Boye on July 10 with 101 people on board, according to survivors quoted by Senegal’s foreign ministry on Tuesday.
Nearly everyone on the boat had grown up in the area, according to elected official Moda Samb, who also noted that several local families were still awaiting word on whether their relatives were among the survivors.
The ministry declared that it was coordinating with Cape Verdean authorities to set up the repatriation of Senegalese people.
According to reports, the passengers also hail from Sierra Leone and, in one instance, Guinea-Bissau.
The survivors were being cared for, according to Jose Moreira, a health officer on Sal, with an emphasis on rehydration and tests for illnesses like malaria.
We are aware that migration concerns are global challenges that need for international cooperation, extensive discussion, and a worldwide plan, according to Health Minister Filomena Goncalves.
Most importantly, “we all – all the nations – have to sit down at the table and see what we can do” to prevent other maritime fatalities.
Safe migration routes, according to IOM spokeswoman Safa Msehli, are “sorely lacking” and provide “room for smugglers and traffickers to put people on these deadly journeys”.
According to reports, the group was aboard a boat resembling this one when 15 migrants drowned in an incident in July.
It’s possible that the survivors wound up in Cape Verde, but it wasn’t their original location.
The archipelago is 600 kilometres (370 miles) off the coast of West Africa and is a major migratory route to the Canary Islands, a Spanish enclave that many people view as a gateway to the EU. It is one of the riskiest voyages a migrant may take, according to the IOM.
As is always the case with irregular migration, exact numbers are difficult to ascertain, but at least 67,000 migrants arrived in the Canary Islands between 2020 and 2023.
Just over 2,500 people died during that time. The IOM notes that this number includes all registered deaths. The actual number may be far higher given the route’s erratic and covert characteristics.
What motivates people to leave their homes and take such a risky voyage, then? Poverty is frequently considered to be a significant issue. Many people view migration to Europe as a way to a better life and to send money back home to help their families.
But there are also other elements at work. A large portion of West Africa is becoming more insecure, and Islamist insurgencies and coups are making an already difficult situation even worse.
In Senegal, there have been reports of violent crackdowns by the government that resulted in the imprisonment of opposition figures. Despite the recent announcement that President Macky Sall would not run for a third term, emotions are still high.
Ultimately, there are just as many motivations to relocate as there are migrants. Each person has a unique drive and background. It appears that at least 60 of them met a tragic end in the Atlantic.
A boat off the coast of Cape Verde carrying about 40 survivors and a number of West African migrants has been discovered adrift.
It’s unclear how many people died exactly.
With over 100 individuals on board, the boat is said to have left Senegal a month prior.
According to speculation, the boat was on its way to the Spanish Canary Islands, a well-liked entry point for immigrants seeking asylum in the European Union.
Each year, thousands of people fleeing poverty and violence take the risky journey across the ocean, frequently in substandard boats or motorised canoes provided by human smugglers.
The month of June has seen the opening of a new technical park close to Praia, the city of Cape Verde, which was under construction for the past six years.
Situated in the vicinity of the Nelson Mandela airport, the new technological park lies at the heart of the government’s digital strategy.
“This building is part of a great vision of the Government of Cape Verde, in the path of diversification of our economy, which is sustained in tourism. It will be an investment that will have a great return for Cape Verde, because we aim from here, from Cape Verde, to be preparing our youth to work in this promising sector, both today and in the future”, said Chairman of the board of directors, Carlos Monteiro.
The area where the technological park is located has been declared a “Free Zone”. Companies located here can benefit from tax breaks and other incentives.
So far, the government has invested 50 million euros in this project and more is planned for the years to come.
Portugal has announced that all debt repayments it receives from its former colony of Cape Verde will be fully reinvested into the African country to drive its transition to a greener and more sustainable future.
The archipelago of 10 small islands, off Africa’s west coast, owes Portugal more than $650m (£524m), of which $13m is due to be repaid by 2025.
Speaking in Cape Verde, Portugal’s Prime Minister António Costa said that money will now be ploughed back into Cape Verde to support renewable energy and other green projects.
Due to FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s stated wish for every country to rename a site after the late forward, Cape Verde has decided to rename its national stadium after Pele.
The 82-year-old Brazilian legend, who won the World Cup three times, is still widely regarded as the best player in football history.
Infantino urged each member of the federation to honor Pele by naming a stadium for him when he spoke at the attacker’s memorial earlier this week.
According to the nation’s prime minister Ulisses Correia e Silva, Cape Verde will now rename its 15,000-seat Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde, which is situated just outside the capital Praia, as the Pele Stadium.
“As a tribute and recognition to this figure that makes us all great, I manifest the intention of naming our national stadium as Pele Stadium,” he said in a statement on Facebook.
“[This is] an initiative that, I believe, will be followed by several countries around the world.
“With the physical disappearance of Edson Arantes de Nascimento, King Pele, who soon became a planetary figure, it is now our wish to pay tribute to him.
“Cape Verde and Brazil have a history and culture that go hand in hand, considering they are two sister countries, linked by language and very similar identities.
“Pele was and always will be a reference in Brazil, in our Portuguese-speaking countries and in the rest of the world, being an idol that links several generations.”
Pele was laid to rest on Tuesday after a procession. His 77 goals for Brazil remain a joint-record for the men’s national team.
Cape Verde’s national stadium is to be renamed after Pele, the country’s prime minister has said.
The 15,000-seater Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde, located just outside the capital Praia, will become the Pele Stadium.
The news comes after Fifa’s president Gianna Infantino proposed – while speaking at Pele’s memorial service in Brazil – that every country should name a stadium after the footballing legend who died on 29 December, aged 82.
“As a tribute and recognition to this figure that makes us all great, I manifest the intention of naming our national stadium as “Pele Stadium”, in an initiative that, I believe, will be followed by several countries around the world,” Ulisses Correira e Silva wrote on Facebook.
“With the physical disappearance of Edson Arantes de Nascimento, King Pele, who soon became a planetary figure, an icon of the masses showing that sport has the power to unite the world, it is now our wish to pay tribute to him,” added Mr Silva in a statement that stressed the importance of Pele to Portuguese-speaking countries like Cape Verde.
“Cape Verde and Brazil have a history and culture that go hand in hand, considering they are two sister countries, linked by language and very similar identities.
“Pele was and always will be a reference in Brazil, in our Portuguese-speaking countries and in the rest of the world, being an idol that links several generations.”
Pele is credited with scoring a world record 1,281 goals in 1,363 appearances during a 21-year career, including 77 goals in 92 matches for his country, and was named Fifa’s Player of the Century in 2000.
At Monday’s memorial to Pele in Santos, the city where he played club football, Infantino said that Fifa would be asking “every country in the world to name one of their football stadiums with the name of Pele”.
However, South Africa’s Football Association president Danny Jordaan has since raised concerns that this could cause potential issues with stadium naming rights.
A Guinean association based in the neighbourhood of Alto da Glória on the outskirts of the capital of Cabo Verde, Praia, is working hard to keep the culture and traditions of their home country alive.
Older members of the cultural association, Cabaz di Terra, are teaching their children about the song, dance, and poetry of Guinea-Bissau.
They believe it is important that the young people born in Cape Verde understand the culture of the country their families come from.
‘They’ve never been to Guinea-Bissau and don’t know what it’s like. Through the association they’ve heard about our home country, they see how they dance, hear how they sing, they keep that culture alive. We don’t want to lose sight of that culture,’ says the association’s secretary, Carlos Djasi.
Guineans are the largest community of foreigners living in Cape Verde, and like most of his fellow countrymen, Diasi’s children have never been to Guinea-Bissau.
Keeping the traditions alive
Twelve-year-old Nayara Mané was born in Cape Verde and has never known her parents’ land, but she can sing and dance as if she had always lived there, thanks to the commitment of the association’s elders.
‘Here I learn our history,’ she says after reciting the poem ‘Cabaz di Terra’, although she confesses that she prefers singing and dancing.
Veracia Nhanco, 13, came to Praia with her parents just four years ago. She practiced traditional dance in Bissau and has continued with it through the association.
Formed in 2013, the association in the informal neighbourhood gives Guineans the opportunity to ‘return’ to their roots every week, even if for a few hours, and in the process, pass on their culture and traditions to the younger generation.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo left Accra on Monday, November 8, 2021, and arrived in Praia, capital of Cape Verde, where he will attend the inauguration of the island nation’s President-elect, Jose Maria Neves.
The president in a video shared by the state broadcaster, GBC, is seen being escorted on the tarmac by Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia and other top government officials as he boarded the presidential jet, the Dassault Falcon 900 EXE.
The issue of presidential travels has in recent months become topical especially with respect to Akufo-Addo’s use of chartered luxury jets for long-haul trips.
His last overseas trip was to Glasgow for the Climate Change Conference. According to a Daily Mail report and independent checks by North Tongu MP, the president chartered a luxury jet for his trip to and from Scotland.
The government through the Minister of Defense has explained that trips within Ghana and the sub-region will be done with the Falcon but long-haul trips overseas will be done through alternative arrangements.
The presidential trips and their cost to the public purse is the subject of an urgent question filed by some Minority Members of Parliament led by North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Akufo-Addo is in Praia not only as President of Ghana but also in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Cape Verdean President-Elect, 61-year-old Neves had previously served as a Prime Minister of the country between 2000 and 2016. He won the presidential election held last month.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo left Accra on Monday, November 8, 2021, and arrived in Praia, capital of Cape Verde, where he will attend the inauguration of the island nation’s President-elect, Jose Maria Neves.
The president in a video shared by the state broadcaster, GBC, is seen being escorted on the tarmac by Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia and other top government officials as he boarded the presidential jet, the Dassault Falcon 900 EXE.
The issue of presidential travels has in recent months become topical especially with respect to Akufo-Addo’s use of chartered luxury jets for long-haul trips.
His last overseas trip was to Glasgow for the Climate Change Conference. According to a Daily Mail report and independent checks by North Tongu MP, the president chartered a luxury jet for his trip to and from Scotland.
The government through the Minister of Defense has explained that trips within Ghana and the sub-region will be done with the Falcon but long-haul trips overseas will be done through alternative arrangements.
The presidential trips and their cost to the public purse is the subject of an urgent question filed by some Minority Members of Parliament led by North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Akufo-Addo is in Praia not only as President of Ghana but also in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Cape Verdean President-Elect, 61-year-old Neves had previously served as a Prime Minister of the country between 2000 and 2016. He won the presidential election held last month.
VP Bawumia will act as President till Akufo-Addo returns home later today, Tuesday, November 9, 2021.
