The building, which had fallen into disrepair due to flooding from the Abou Ali River in Tripoli and the civil war in Lebanon, was restored by TİKA and returned to its original appearance.

In 2024, renovation work was completed on the Mevlevi Lodge in Tripoli, which had been declared the Arab Capital of Culture for that year, to prepare it for its new role. After addressing the wear and tear caused by natural conditions, the lodge was handed over to the Mevlevi Trustee to function as a youth and cultural center.

Visited by Evliya Çelebi

Founded in 1619 by Ali Pasha of Samsun as a center of knowledge along the pilgrimage route, the Mevlevi Lodge was visited by the renowned traveler Evliya Çelebi in 1672. He described it as “a delightful structure surrounded by lemon, citrus and rose gardens, with dervish lodgings overlooking the river.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA).

On Thursday, 12th September 2024, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo commissioned the largest bitumen processing plant in Ghana, located in Tema, Accra.

The $40 million state-of-the-art facility is the result of a joint venture between Ghana’s GOIL PLC and Côte d’Ivoire’s Société Multinationale de Bitumes (SMB). This landmark project is set to play a transformative role in the country’s road construction sector and industrial growth, reducing reliance on bitumen imports and positioning Ghana as a key player in the West African bitumen market.

In his address, President Akufo-Addo expressed immense pride in the achievement, calling it a testament to regional cooperation and collaboration. He was joined by His Excellency Robert Beugré Mambé, Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire, who represented President Alassane Ouattara, underscoring the significance of this partnership. The President emphasized that the plant is symbolic of the strong ties between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, noting that the collaboration exemplifies the power of shared vision and resources within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The GOIL/SMB Bitumen Plant has a total storage capacity of 7,500 metric tons and will process base bitumen imported from Côte d’Ivoire into high-quality polymer modified bitumen (PMB) and bitumen emulsions. These products are critical to the development of durable road infrastructure, offering enhanced performance under extreme weather conditions and heavy traffic loads. PMB, which is produced by adding polymers to standard bitumen, is known for its superior elasticity, strength, and resistance to cracking, making it ideal for use in high-stress areas such as highways and airport runways.

Bitumen emulsions, on the other hand, are used in road maintenance and construction, offering environmentally friendly solutions that reduce the need for high temperatures during application. Emulsions provide an economical and effective way of maintaining roads, sealing surfaces, and supporting infrastructure projects. The ability to produce these essential products domestically will not only improve the quality of roads in Ghana but also lower construction costs by reducing the dependence on imported bitumen.

President Akufo-Addo highlighted that the plant comes at a crucial time, as his government continues to make significant investments in expanding the country’s road network. “Since 2017, we have embarked on the most extensive road construction program in Ghana’s history, with over 12,000 kilometers of roads built,” he said. “This facility will complement the government’s efforts, producing the necessary volumes of polymer modified bitumen and bitumen emulsions to meet the growing demands of our infrastructure sector.”

The commissioning of the GOIL/SMB Bitumen Plant also represents a significant step forward in fostering regional integration between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. President Akufo-Addo praised the joint venture as a model for future collaborations within ECOWAS, stressing that cooperation between national companies can drive industrialization and economic development across the region. “This initiative demonstrates what we can achieve when we pool our resources, expertise, and resolve as nations,” the President remarked. “It is a symbol of how cooperation between our two nations can serve as a catalyst for regional development.”

The facility is also expected to contribute to job creation and boost Ghana’s export potential. By producing high-quality bitumen products domestically, Ghana will not only meet its local demand but also supply neighboring West African countries, generating foreign exchange earnings for the economy. The President underscored the importance of ensuring that the plant operates at the highest standards, producing bituminous products that meet international specifications. This, he said, would position Ghana as a leader in the bitumen industry in the region.

President Akufo-Addo took the opportunity to reiterate his government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for industrial ventures like the GOIL/SMB Bitumen Plant. He noted that the success of such projects is proof of the soundness of the government’s economic policies and the resilience of the Ghanaian economy, even in the face of global challenges. He also urged the Minister for Roads and Highways, Honourable Francis Asenso-Boakye, to ensure that high-quality bitumen from the GOIL/SMB plant is used in major road projects across the country.

The President commended the leadership of GOIL PLC for their continued commitment to advancing Ghana’s petroleum and energy sector. He lauded the dedication of the contractors, Orsam, as well as the workers from GOIL and SMB, for their efforts in completing the project on schedule while maintaining rigorous safety standards.

In conclusion, President Akufo-Addo expressed optimism about the future of industrial partnerships between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. He emphasized that the commissioning of the bitumen plant is just the beginning, with numerous opportunities for collaboration and innovation on the horizon. “This plant strengthens the foundation upon which we are building a future of self-reliance and regional integration,” the President said. “Together, we will continue to forge partnerships that benefit our peoples and promote sustainable development.”

The GOIL/SMB Bitumen Plant is a clear example of how strategic partnerships and regional cooperation can drive industrialization and create economic opportunities, making Ghana a leader in road construction and infrastructure development in West Africa.

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

The President and Chief Executive of the Pan-African conglomerate, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote (www.Dangote.com), has called on African business leaders to take the lead in transforming the continent.

Speaking at the just concluded African Renaissance Retreat held in Kigali, Rwanda, Dangote pointed out that despite significant challenges besetting Africa, its youthful population and abundant resources, including about 30% of the world’s mineral reserves and the largest reserves of gold, cobalt, uranium, platinum, and diamonds, offer opportunities for substantial and inclusive growth.

“Additionally, we have 65% of the world’s arable land and 10% of the planet’s internal renewable freshwater sources. Together these present a myriad of opportunities for robust, inclusive growth that harness our abundant human potential and natural resources to increase prosperity, not just in Africa but across the globe,” he said. Dangote added that Africa is at a crucial inflection point, with the world’s youngest and fastest-growing population, rapidly expanding cities, and a growing embrace of innovation and new technologies, including Artificial Intelligence.

Dangote noted that despite dealing with multiple barriers such as visas, inconsistent change in government policies, inadequate technical talent, lack of critical infrastructure, foreign exchange crises, inflation, cost of capital and other conflicts of differing dimensions, the Dangote Group has expanded from Nigeria to 14 countries across the continent, spanning multiple sectors from cement to fertilizers, sugar to oil refineries, petrochemicals, agriculture and more. “The good news is that despite these challenges, we have succeeded in building a pan-African Group that employs over 50,000 people and generates revenues that should exceed $30bn by the end of 2025,” he said.

Dangote who initiated the retreat noted that he had long contemplated bringing together a group of dedicated African business leaders to address the continent’s challenges, identify concrete solutions, and showcase Africa as a viable investment destination despite its obstacles. He emphasized that the objective of the retreat was to offer an opportunity for collective action in tackling various issues, including persistent conflicts, energy and food security, supply chain disruptions, the debt crisis, and access to long-term concessional funding for development.

“This small private and high-level gathering to discuss these issues and align on how we will own and shape our narrative for development is long overdue. With the foremost entrepreneurs on the continent, the leaders of the largest pan-African companies, those at the helm of the most important development institutions in Africa, our brothers and sisters leading global institutions, our leading investors, our pre-eminent civil society activists and a few of our most respected political leaders, this first step will be an opportunity to have a frank and honest dialogue amongst ourselves to consolidate what we see as our common ground” said Dangote. He added “we are coming together not just as leaders in our respective institutions but as visionaries and catalysts for transforming our societies. It is our collective responsibility to play our role in transforming our continent. Nobody will do it for us but us – especially us in this room”.

While expressing his hope that the retreat would produce initiatives capable of significantly shaping Africa’s future and benefiting its people, Dangote acknowledged the contributions of President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and former Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn. However, he cautioned that it is crucial for the leaders present to move beyond dialogue to decisive implementation and tangible impact.

The Retreat participants resolved to urge African private sector and political leaders to engage in regular high-level dialogue. Additional proposals included supporting the ratification of the free movement of people protocol, launching the African Renaissance Companies Gender Compact, and convening top global business leaders of African descent. The leaders also aimed to champion an initiative aimed at significantly reducing logistics costs across the continent and one focused on ensuring internet access for a broader segment of Africa’s population.

Participants at the retreat, which took place from September 6 to 8, included Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations; Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank; former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; Adebayo Ogunlesi, Chairperson of Global Infrastructure Partners; former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn, Samaila Zubairu of the African Finance Corporation, Makhtar Diop of IFC, and Jeremy Awori, CEO of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated.

Others were Bernie Mensah of Bank of America; Dr. James Mwangi of Equity Group Holdings; Alain Ebobisse of Africa50; Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede of Access Holdings; Genevieve Sangudi of Alterra Capital Partners; Jim Ovia of Zenith Bank; Tony Elumelu of Heirs Holdings; Naguib Sawiris of Orascom Telecom Holding; Dr. Vera Songwe; Jonathan Oppenheimer of Oppenheimer partners; Dr. James Manyika of Google;  Clare Akamanzi of NBA Africa; Fred Swaniker of Africa Leadership Group; Professor Hakeem Belo-Osagie of Harvard Business School; Myma Belo-Osagie of Harvard Africa Studies Centre; Patrice Motsepe of African Rainbow Minerals; Mohammed Dewji of METL; Moussa Faki Mahamat of Africa Union; Graca Machel of the Graca Machel Trust; Wamkele Mene of African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat;  Tope Lawani of Helios Partners; Masai Ujiri of the Toronto Raptors; Mimi Alemayehou of Three Cairns Group; Dr. Donald Kaberuka of Southbridge Group; Precious Moloi-Motsepe of Africa Fashion International; Richelieu Dennis of Sundial Group of Companies; Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary General of Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie; Hassanein Hiridjee of Axian Group; Kate Fotso of Telcar Cocoa; Nkosana Moyo of Mandela Institute for Development Studies; Nku Nyembezi of Standard Bank Group.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Dangote Group.

The spread of conflict, access challenges and widespread flooding are severely hampering the emergency response efforts of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations across the country, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa, AbdulHakim Elwaer, warned.

According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) results published in June, over half the population – 25.6 million people – face Crisis or worse conditions (IPC Phase 3 or above) between June and September 2024, coinciding with the lean season. This includes 755 000 people in catastrophic levels of acute hunger (IPC Phase 5) across 10 states. The IPC Famine Review Committee (FRC) has confirmed for the first time in the country that Famine conditions (IPC Phase 5) are currently occurring in Zamzam camp, North Darfur. 

“The speed and scale of deteriorating food insecurity are alarming, and the challenges to reach affected populations are growing larger by the day. However, there remains room for action—if and only if we take united and immediate steps,” said Elwaer, who is currently in Sudan to assess the situation on the ground, urge global attention on Sudan’s aggravating crisis and support the Organization’s interventions.

The unprecedented rainfall this season has led to widespread flooding throughout the country, hampering humanitarian efforts and causing further population displacement. Since June, according to the Sudan Floods Dashboard, 90 300 households (499 619 people) have been affected by heavy rains and flooding in 69 localities across 15 states. Agriculture, rural livelihoods and food marketing systems are on the front line of the conflict, suffering damage and disruption, with cascading consequences for food security.

Elwaer emphasizes the critical need for timely delivery. “FAO and its partners are committed to ensuring the timely delivery of agricultural aid across the country, including the hardest-hit areas, where the need is greatest. We are leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to address this critical situation.”

FAO’s emergency response to food insecurity

Since early-June, FAO, with the support of its resource and implementing partners, has distributed almost 3 900 tonnes of vital crop and vegetable seeds to over 400 000 vulnerable households in nine states (White Nile, Sennar, Northern State, North Kordofan, Gedaref, Kassala, River Nile, Red Sea and Blue Nile). This critical effort aims to boost local food production and restore livelihoods amidst the ongoing crisis.

FAO’s response also includes large-scale livestock and fisheries support, which involves providing households with emergency livestock and fisheries supplies, animal restocking, livestock vaccination and treatment, and mineral licks to feed livestock. In 2024, so far, FAO and its partners have successfully vaccinated almost 2.8 million animals against common livestock diseases, reaching nearly 558 000 agro/pastoral households.

With famine looming in other parts of the country, resources are urgently required to meet the growing needs, curb food insecurity and restart local food production. To date, FAO has mobilized $32.2 million to finance its $104.1 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for 2024, leaving a gap of $71.9 million.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).