West Africa - The African Mirror

Nov

2022

Explainer: Why are West and Central Africa’s floods so devastating this year?

ALESSANDRA PRENTICE UNUSUALLY intense seasonal rains have drenched swathes of West and Central Africa since June, unleashing deadly floods that have affected millions and submerged farmland in 19 countries. Below are factors that are making the floods worse and data on the scale of their impact. WHERE IS THE WATER COMING FROM? Most years, West and Central Africa see floods of varying severity between June and September when seasonal rains sweep through the Sahel belt of countries along the southern fringes of the Sahara desert. This season, a La Niña weather pattern caused above-average rainfall in parts of the region…

Oct

2022

By The African Mirror

The 5 biggest threats to West Africa’s oceans – and what to do about them

ENVIRONMENT

THE natural resources that form ocean ecosystems can play a significant role in the socio-economic growth and development of nations. West Africa has a variety of marine and coastal ecosystems, found within the Atlantic Ocean. This is one of the most diverse and economically important fishing zones in the world and provides an income for many through fishing, shipping, logistics and mining. But unregulated and unsustainable exploitation has degraded the ecosystems severely. Threats have come from land-based sources of pollution, insecurity and piracy, illegal and harmful fishing practices, and climate change. Author ADERONKE OMOLARA LAWAL-ARE, Professor of Marine Sciences, University…

Apr

2022

By The African Mirror

Ukraine war increases U.N. food agency’s costs in hunger-hit West Africa

NEWS

OPERATIONAL costs of the United Nation's World Food Programme (WFP) will increase by $136 million in West Africa this year because of the global rise in food and fuel prices driven by the war in Ukraine, the agency said. The additional costs will hamper attempts to relieve a spiralling food crisis in the region fuelled by conflict, drought, pandemic-linked border closures and the impact of Ukraine's crisis on food prices and availability. The WFP was already struggling to expand its response to an "unprecedented food and nutrition crisis" in West Africa, and was forced to cut rations in seven countries…

Apr

2022

By The African Mirror

2022 Grammys: what Fela Kuti has to do with West Africa’s growing pop fame

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

THERE are a record number of African nominees for the 2022 Grammy Awards and they are almost all from West Africa – Angelique Kidjo (Benin), Rocky Duwani (Ghana), Femi Kuti, Made Kuti, Wizkid, Burna Boy and Tems (Nigeria). Most of these artists are also proponents of Afrobeat(Femi and Made Kuti, following the musical and political form defined by Fela Kuti) or new breed Afrobeats (Wizkid, Burna Boy and Tems). Kidjo, too, has admitted to being influenced by Fela. Author SANYA OSHA, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Humanities in Africa, University of Cape Town As with Afrobeat, Afrobeats is music characterised…

May

2021

By The African Mirror

IMF mission says Ghana economy rebounding

BUSINESS

RODRIGO CAMPOS A country mission of the International Monetary Fund says Ghana has managed its COVID-19 outbreak very effectively and its economy is rebounding with the support of strong policies. "Policy interventions in 2020 were also critical to safeguard livelihoods and paved the way for a faster rebound of economic activity," said Carlo Sdralevich, the mission head, in a statement following virtual meetings ended on May 12. He said last year's government actions to contain the pandemic also exacerbated pre-existing budget constraints and public debt vulnerabilities. "The 2021 budget's recent policy pivot towards fiscal consolidation is an important step in…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

‘Sacred forests’ in West Africa capture carbon and keep soil healthy

ENVIRONMENT

IN parts of West Africa, patches of forest have been preserved for long periods of time because of their cultural or religious significance. These “sacred forests” are believed to be inhabited and protected by gods, totem animals or ancestors. Local communities have their own rules prohibiting reckless harvesting of timber and game, which have protected the sacred forests over many generations. MICHELE FRANCIS, Researcher, Department of Soil Science, Stellenbosch University The forests cover several hundred square kilometres, and may be the remnants of a once continuous forest along the West African coast. The historically dense forest ecosystem in West Africa…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

EXPLAINER-Why protests are shaking one of Africa’s most stable democracies

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

EDWARD McALLISTER CLASHES between police and thousands of demonstrators protesting at the detention of Senegal's most prominent opposition leader have killed at least five people since last week. Ousmane Sonko was indicted and released on bail under judicial supervision on Monday but an opposition coalition has called for three days of protests from Monday. The unrest is the worst in a decade in Senegal, widely seen as one of West Africa's most stable democracies. Following is a look at what is driving the unrest. ACCUSATIONS OF POLITICAL INTERFERENCE The demonstrations were ignited by Sonko's arrest last week, after an employee…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

Ghana end 12-year long drought

SPORT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER GHANA'S Black Satellites, the junior team to the senior Black Stars, sealed their fourth Under-20 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) title defeating tournament debutants Uganda 2-0. The west African giants clashed against their east African counterparts in the Mauritanian capital and had their captain Daniel Barneih, who was named man of the match after scoring two goals in the matchup, to thank after a hard fought affair. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHH_cGpEAy0 https://twitter.com/CAF_Online/status/1368335586617090049 Ghana were made to wait 12 years to become four-time AFCON U20 champions, claiming the honour in 1993, 1999, 2009, and recently in 2021. Rising to the throne…

Feb

2021

By The African Mirror

Ebola strikes West Africa again: key questions and lessons from the past

HEALTH

NEWS of a new outbreak of Ebola in Guinea is indeed distressing. The last in West Africa occurred between 2014 and 2015 and affected Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. It was the world’s deadliest Ebola outbreak, which began in Guinea and in which more than 11,300 people died. Among these were over 500 health workers. MOSOKA FALLAH, Part-time lecturer at the Global Health & Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Lecturer at the School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Liberia But countries in the West African region are in a very different position seven years on.…

Feb

2021

By The African Mirror

Nigeria off to a great start

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO OPENING day of the African basketball championship (Afrobasket) qualifiers started in electrifying fashion in Monastir with Nigeria staking their claim as Africa’s finest. Nigeria prevailed as winners (75-70) against an impressive South Sudan team in the latter’s first continental competition. D’Tigers (Nigeria national men’s team) had to pry the victory away from the determined South Sudan team coached by former National Basketball Association (NBA) All-star Luol Deng. https://twitter.com/AfroBasket/status/1362137886557155328 Currently ranked number one in Africa, under the guidance of new head coach Mdon Udofia, Nigeria booked their ticket to the main Afrobasket showcase scheduled for late 2021. Point guard…