The Southern Region marked International Workers’ Day, with early celebrations in Mendefera city on April 29, under the theme “Professional Competence Development Stimulant.”

Mr. Tekeste Mihreteab, the head of the confederation branch office, outlined the history of Eritrean workers’ struggles for their rights and their role in the armed struggle for independence, safeguarding the national sovereignty and in the implementation of national development programs. He highlighted the importance of May 1 as a day for workers to renew their commitment to national development.

Mr. Tekeste announced ongoing efforts to boost worker skills through vocational training and called for increased stakeholder participation in the implementation of programs.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has called for greater levels of co-operation and collaboration amongst the broad spectrum of global maritime stakeholders.

“No nation can afford to do it alone. Ghana, being cognizant of her responsibilities as a coastal state, is playing her part in collaborating with the international maritime community towards enhancing maritime security in the region and on the entire African continent,” he said.

That is why, “the African Maritime Forces Summit and Naval Infantry Leaders Symposium, thus, provide us with a unique opportunity to strengthen our partnerships, and enhance our collective capabilities.”

President Akufo-Addo said this at the opening of the second African Maritime Forces Summit and third Naval Infantry Leadership Symposium Africa in Accra on Tuesday, 30th April, 2024.

Held under the theme, “Cooperation at Sea: Safeguarding African Maritime Security”, President the African Maritime Forces Summit and Naval Infantry Leaders Symposium, provide us with a unique opportunity to strengthen our partnerships, and enhance our collective capabilities through constructive dialogue, exchange of best practices, and exploring innovative solutions to the maritime security challenges facing our continent.   

Recognizing the Gulf of Guinea region as a key route for international trade that connects all the major continents, from the Middle East and Asia to Europe and the Americas and the growing investments in the region, especially in offshore oil and gas infrastructures, he said the coastal trading and maritime traffic are bound to increase and with this growing wealth and geo-strategic relevance, the region has to cope with both traditional and emerging maritime security threats.

Whilst recognizing that these transnational crimes do not only threaten national and regional peace and stability, but also come at a great cost to the economies of both coastal and non-coastal states, he was happy to note that, “piracy and armed robbery at sea, which are the most visible symptoms of insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea, have, as a result of the co-ordination of efforts of the Nigerian and Ghanaian navies, been appreciably suppressed” and though they still remain important threats to national and regional maritime activities.

it is in lieu of this, he continued, that is why it is “imperative that we foster greater co-operation and collaboration amongst African maritime forces. By working together, sharing intelligence, and coordinating our efforts, we can address effectively maritime security threats, and safeguard our maritime domain.”

He noted that, to this end, several collaborative efforts have been advanced by African countries which included regional collaborations between neighbouring countries to improve the approach to dealing with maritime crimes such as the operationalisation of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct to deal with maritime crimes and the revision of the Gulf of Guinea Commission, which had been moribund for some time, to contribute to securing the peace and stability of the Gulf of Guinea.

On the part of Ghana, he pointed out government’s commitment towards the retooling of the Ghana Navy and the Ghana Armed Forces, amply demonstrated in the commissioning of some twenty vessels for the Navy with the process of acquiring two Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Navy also far advanced as well as the building of a new Naval Base in the Western Region which is also nearly completed.

“These investments would help safeguard the security of our maritime space, and lead to an accelerated growth of our blue economy. Other African countries have shown similar commitments, and collaboration with our key partners have ensured the significant improvement in the security of Africa’s maritime domain.”

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

President William Ruto has asked the Ministry of Labour to hold a meeting with the relevant labour relations committee so as to raise the minimum wage by at least 6 per cent.

This, he said, is part of the government’s initiative to uplift the welfare of workers.

President Ruto also instructed the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to operationalise multiple wage councils provided for in the Labour Relations Act 2007, aiming to ensure industrial peace and the effective management of disputes.

These include wage councils for seafarers and protective, general and agricultural workers.

“They will negotiate minimum wages in different sectors, enhancing conciliation, mediation and industrial peace,” he said.

President Ruto made the remarks during the 59th International Labour Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens National Stadium, Nairobi County.

The President said the government is doing all in its power to grow the economy and ensure the well-being of all citizens.

He explained that significant progress has been made in managing inflation, stabilising the currency and addressing debt.

“Our economic policies have also lowered the prices of basic goods, easing pressure on workers,” he said.

The President said the government has a deliberate plan on how to create jobs, citing the affordable housing programme, digital hubs and migration of labour.

He urged doctors to end their strike and engage in negotiations with the government in good faith.

The President said while doctors have the right to resort to industrial action, it should be done responsibly and with consideration for the well-being of the public.

Present were Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Labour Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli, among others.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of President of the Republic of Kenya.

Operational teams within the Home Office have been working at pace to safely and swiftly detain individuals in scope for relocation to Rwanda, with more activity due to be carried out in the coming weeks. 

The action is a key part of the plan to deliver flights to Rwanda in the next 9 to 11 weeks. 

This activity forms yet another major milestone in the government’s wider plan to stop small boat crossings, which we reduced by more than a third in 2023.  

The Rwanda policy will deter migrants from making perilous journeys across the channel by showing clearly that, if you come here illegally, you cannot stay.  

Home Secretary James Cleverly said: Our Rwanda Partnership is a pioneering response to the global challenge of illegal migration, and we have worked tirelessly to introduce new, robust legislation to deliver it. Our dedicated enforcement teams are working at pace to swiftly detain those who have no right to be here so we can get flights off the ground. This is a complex piece of work, but we remain absolutely committed to operationalising the policy, to stop the boats and break the business model of people smuggling gangs.

Home Office Director of Enforcement Eddy Montgomery said:  Our specialist operational teams are highly trained and fully equipped to carry out the necessary enforcement activity at pace and in the safest way possible. It is vital that operational detail is kept to a minimum, to protect colleagues involved and those being detained, as well as ensuring we can deliver this large-scale operation as quickly as possible.

The Home Office has increased detention capacity to more than 2,200 detention spaces, trained 200 new caseworkers to quickly process claims and has 500 highly trained escorts ready. 

Commercial charters have also been booked and an airport has been put on standby. 

Rwanda has proven time and again its ability to offer asylum seekers a chance to build new and prosperous lives with accommodation, education, training and employment. The country has a strong and successful track record in resettling people, hosting more than 135,000 refugees, and stands ready to accept thousands more who cannot stay in the UK.   

The government’s Safety of Rwanda Act and internationally binding treaty reaffirm and ensure the safety of Rwanda and this policy. The treaty responds directly to the Supreme Court’s findings in December, by strengthening Rwanda’s asylum system to ensure no one will be returned to an unsafe country after relocation. Building on the treaty, the Act confirms that Rwanda is a safe country for the purposes of relocation.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Government of UK.