The Northern Regional House of Chiefs, has commended the government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, for numerous development projects the region has seen since the government assumed office.

Dr. Bawumia, who is also the NPP Flagbearer for this year’s election, is in the Northern Region, as part of his nationwide engagements with key stakeholders, including traditional leaders.

Welcoming Dr. Bawumia to the region, during his interaction with the Northern Regional House of Chiefs, on Thursday, Ndan Ya-Naa Naa Abukari II, who is also President of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs, said the region appreciates the NPP government for the springing up of what he called  “monumental” development projects, as well as the support and contribution of Dr. Bawumia, to the progress of the region.

“We feel and appreciate the impact your government has made in the last seven years, of good governance, working to improve the living conditions of our people,” the Ya Naa said, in his speech, read  in his presence.

‘We value your efforts, notably the peace and monumental projects in the region,” added the Ya Naa, who went on to list some of the projects.

“Mention is made of a few, particularly the state of the art sports stadium in our present locality, the ongoing construction of a multi-purpose sports  centre for the gallant men and women of the Ghana Armed Forces, the Tamale International Airport, the  interchange in our regional capital, among many others.’

The Ya Naa continued that the government’s development projects in the  Northern Region have impacted positively on the region by creating opportunities for the youth.

“These projects have employed many youth, lessened the hardships of several families and  contributed to reducing youth unemployment in the country,” he noted.

While commending the government and the Vice President, the Ya Naa also expressed some concerns and appealed to Dr. Bawumia to push for some projects, like  the Tamale and Yendi Water Supply projects, to complete in earnest.

The Ya Naa, on behalf of the Northern  Regional House of Chiefs, formally congratulated Dr. Bawumia on his historic election as NPP Flagbearer, and wished him well, as he seeks to lead the country as President.

“I wish you a happy and prosperous campaign. May Allah Azza Wa Jal (Owner of Greatness) grant you the opportunity to serve in the highest office of the land,”  he added.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.

Administrator Samantha Power will travel to Morocco from May 19-22 to underscore the United States’ commitment to deepening relations with one of its oldest allies. During her trip, Administrator Power will meet with government officials, partner organizations, youth, and local communities. The Administrator will highlight how USAID is partnering with local organizations in Morocco to advance locally led development as critical to driving lasting and meaningful gains. She will also visit communities impacted by last year’s earthquake to see first-hand how USAID programs are supporting Morocco’s ongoing recovery efforts.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The IAEA Director General was in Nigeria this week to help increase access to vital nuclear technologies for cancer care, in his first official visit to the country since taking office.

Rafael Mariano Grossi was invited by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu to to speak at the High-level Regional Seminar on Promoting Cancer Awareness and Advocacy Programmes for the member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

During his opening address, the Director General said: “Every day 2000 Africans die of cancer. Around 80 per cent of Africans do not have any access to radiotherapy. Any at all.

“The IAEA is about concrete projects,” Mr Grossi continued. “It is about giving you the technology, it is about training your doctors, your oncologists, your radiotherapists, so that they are able to provide these services to your people. And this is what we are going to be doing with Rays of Hope.”

Many of the first ladies who spoke at the event mentioned their countries’ partnerships with the IAEA, and how these were helping drive progress towards health goals. Both the First Lady of Gambia Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow and First Lady of Sierra Leone Dr Fatima Maada Bio said they appreciated the support from the IAEA in working towards the first radiotherapy centres in their countries.

Dr Maada added: “Our agenda now is to make sure we have our own facility in Sierra Leone – where we can treat our own people in our own country.”

Before the cancer seminar, Mr Grossi visited the National Hospital Abuja, alongside Minister of Health Dr Tunji Alausa, to speak with medical staff and view firsthand the issues they face maintaining key radiotherapy equipment and hiring trained experts.

The Director General was shown a Linear Accelerator radiotherapy machine that had already treated 50 patients that day, but was out of order regularly due to ongoing maintenance issues. He also saw a brachytherapy machine for providing internal radiotherapy, which is the only one available to treat 60 million people in the area. Nigeria has asked the IAEA to coordinate an imPACT review this year to help improve its cancer control programme.

At the end of his visit, Mr Grossi said: “It is very clear that Nigerians need more access to cancer treatment than is currently available. We need to amplify the support. You can count on us.”

Dr Emmanuella Nwachukwu, Head of the Radiotherapy and Oncology Department, agreed: “We were immensely pleased to receive the Director General and take him on a tour of the facility, showing him how we have put to good use the various benefits we received from the IAEA in the last two decades, while sharing our challenges, as well as our requests that we need to improve radiotherapy services and cancer care at the National Hospital Abuja.”

During his two-day visit, the Director General also met with senior members of the government, such as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, to discuss cancer care and other development priorities, including sustainable energy.

Nigeria is currently planning its own nuclear power programme, with the IAEA’s support. Mr Grossi told Mr Akume that this is “a logical move for a country of your size and importance.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Spiro, the largest electric vehicle company in Africa, is pleased to announce it has signed heads of terms for US$50 million debt facility with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com). 

This landmark agreement was signed in Kigali, Rwanda during the Africa CEO Forum, highlighting Spiro’s commitment to enhancing sustainable transportation on the continent. The official signing ceremony featured Spiro’s CEO, Kaushik Burman, and Madame Kanayo Awani, Intra-African Trade and Export Development Bank, Afreximbank. 

Spiro is the largest electric vehicle company in Africa, with over 14,000 bikes, over 9 million swaps in five countries. Operating across multiple African nations, Spiro’s mission is to reduce environmental impact and enhance urban mobility, build an integrated EV ecosystem in Africa with multitude of partners and establish a wide range of charging infrastructure which include battery swapping and direct charging. 

Afreximbank, known for its role in stimulating a consistent expansion and diversification of African trade, has been instrumental in fostering economic development across the continent. The bank’s support for Spiro not only highlights the potential of green technologies in Africa but also aligns with its broader strategy to facilitate environmental sustainability and economic resilience. 

“This partnership with Afreximbank is a pivotal development for Spiro,” stated Kaushik Burman, CEO of Spiro. “The $50 million USD debt facility will significantly enhance our operational capabilities and help us expand our footprint to more African countries. It’s a testament to the confidence in our business model and our contribution to sustainable development in Africa.” 

Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade and Export Development Bank, Afreximbank expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “This partnership affirms our commitment to fostering sustainable innovation and green technologies in Africa. We are happy to support Spiro through this facility which will in turn accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and enhance transportation across Africa. This collaboration reaffirms our belief in the power of innovation to create a better world for future generations.”

The funds will be utilized to further expand Spiro’s network of automated swap stations and introduce new electric bike models, enhancing the accessibility and convenience of green mobility solutions. As Spiro continues to lead the charge in transforming Africa’s transport ecosystem, this collaboration with Afreximbank marks a significant milestone in the journey towards a greener future.

Anish Jain, Group CEO of Equitane, expressed his support for this new venture, stating, “This partnership with Afreximbank marks a significant milestone in Spiro’s journey. As part of the Equitane Group, Spiro embodies our commitment to pioneering solutions that promote sustainability and economic growth. We are proud to see Spiro take this remarkable step forward, paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future in African transportation.” 

Last August, Spiro announced a $63 million debt funding round with Societe Generale, in a deal designed to expand the company’s footprint in Benin and Togo. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

About Spiro: 
Spiro is the largest electric vehicle company in Africa, with over 14000 bikes, over 9 million swaps in five countries. Operating across multiple African nations, Spiro’s mission is to reduce environmental impact and enhance urban mobility, build an integrated EV ecosystem in Africa with multitude of partners and establish a wide range of charging infrastructure which include battery swapping and direct charging. 

About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra-and extra-African trade. For 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialization and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank is setting up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2023, Afreximbank’s total assets and guarantees stood at over US$37.3 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$6.1 billion. The Bank disbursed more than US$104 billion between 2016 and 2023. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody’s (Baa1), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com

About Equitane:
Equitane is a dynamic conglomerate deeply invested in fostering progress in Africa and beyond. The company is all about spotting opportunities and turning them into big projects that make a real impact. From infrastructure, power and gas, electric vehicles, renewable energy, textiles, agribusiness, healthcare, to sustainable mining, Equitane incubates the potential in their subsidiaries to encourage growth across a wide range of sectors and geographies. Their mission is straightforward: to help countries grow economically and socially. That means creating jobs, training young people, and teaming up with governments to achieve their goals. Equitane is focused on economic growth and passionate about building a better future. Through smart investments and teamwork, they are tackling today’s challenges while laying the groundwork for tomorrow’s successes.