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Dlamini-Zuma: Use the abundant resources to develop Africa
Dr Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini-Zuma, former Chairperson of the African Union Commission, has urged African leaders to utilize the abundant resources the continent is endowed with to the benefit of their people.
“In Europe, I don’t know how many days of sunshine they have, but here we have at least over 300 days of sunshine. We must take advantage of that. We have our rivers, we must use them. And we are blessed with the diversity of water and oil, which we must benefit from,” she noted.
Dlamini-Zuma was speaking on the topic “Why the world needs a Dynamic Africa and what role must each African Play to achieve this goal” at the BOMA of Africa event organized by AUDA-NEPAD and AfroChampions on the sidelines of the Africa Union’s Mid-Year Coordinating Meeting held in Accra last Saturday.
Under the theme “From the Africa We Want to the Africa We Build,” the 2024 edition of BOMA of Africa aimed at celebrating the radical ideas and actions driving Africa forward.
This festival of innovation and unity featured debates, discussions, and announcements of groundbreaking initiatives that exemplify the milestones of African integration and development.
Through focused discussions on health, wealth creation, development financing, and governance, BOMA 2024 aimed to ignite new momentum towards realising Africa’s continental aspirations. By spotlighting major projects and initiatives, the event aimed to foster a spirit of collaboration and determination.
In a world marked by geopolitical shifts, technological advancements, conflicts, and economic turbulence, Africa’s strategic blueprint, Agenda 2063, has become urgent and necessary. The BOMA of Africa serves as a high point for showcasing and celebrating strategic developments on this roadmap, providing a platform to mobilize support for peace, security, and development.
“Our minds and our trajectory to Agenda 2063 cannot be determined only by investors, otherwise, we are colonised. It must be determined by what we can do and what we want to do,” Dr. Dlamini-Zuma said.
According to her, “We need to build our own trains. We need to build our own cars. We need to build roads. Eventually, we should also be able to build our own lakes. Maybe not today. It’s a big elephant, one bite at a time, but we must get there.”
Key highlights at BOMA 2024 included the 2nd Sankore Lecture, the inaugural Sankore Awards, and showcasing transformative projects such as Energize Africa, the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa, and the Home-Grown Solutions Accelerator. These initiatives underscore commitment to advancing regional integration, socio-economic growth, and resilience across the continent.
A longstanding member of the African National Congress, who currently serves as Chancellor of the University of Limpopo, Dr. Dlamini-Zuma advised Africans to not let colonisation and slavery define them, but rather, remember their unique identity.
“Before we were colonised, we were a very dynamic continent and dynamic people. Even the Europeans themselves acknowledge that Africa was a dynamic continent,” she noted.
Dr. Dlamini-Zuma expressed disappointment and worry that Africa, with its huge youthful population, has become a supplier of labour to other parts of the world. She said Africans must travel out of choice and not out of desperation.
She encouraged African leaders to improve the conditions in their countries to prevent their citizens from travelling out of frustration and desperation.
“If they go somewhere else, it should be out of choice, not out of desperation, as it’s happening today. But also, I always get this complaint about how difficult it is around African countries,” she said.
AUDA-NEPAD and AfroChampions, alongside other strategic partners, have hosted the annual BOMA of Africa event during African Integration Week since 2019. This year’s BOMA was aligned with the AU Mid-Year Coordination Meeting, further cementing its significance on the continent’s commemorative calendar.
The Boma of Africa 2024 was held in Accra, Ghana on July 20, 2024 on the sidelines of the AU Mid-Year Coordinating Meeting.
This year’s theme, “From the Africa We Want to the Africa We Build” brought together distinguished leaders, strategists, and innovators to celebrate and assess the remarkable progress of Agenda 2063.
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Prof. Dodoo named ARSO President Emeritus
The African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) has unanimously conferred Professor Alex Dodoo with the honorary title of President Emeritus following resolutions by both its executive council and general assembly.
The decision, which was taken during the 31st General Assembly of ARSO in Zanzibar, Tanzania, last Friday, recognised Prof. Dodoo’s exceptional leadership in advancing continental standards for trade, safety and sustainable development.
The resolution ensured his continued advisory role in the strategic direction of ARSO while mentoring future standardisation leaders across Africa.
The Secretary-General of ARSO, Dr Hemogene Nsengimana, said the title of President Emeritus was reserved for leaders whose impact transcended their tenure, reflecting lifelong dedication to their field.
Excellence
As immediate past ARSO President and Director-General of the Ghana Standards Authority, Prof. Dodoo spearheaded the creation of critical structures within ARSO and influenced harmonisation initiatives supporting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Professor Dodoo, an expert in pharmaceuticals, public health, and standards regulation, has played a pivotal role in shaping the standardisation landscape of Africa.
Under his leadership, ARSO saw effective collaboration among member states culminating in the general assembly this year, and bringing together a record 34 countries, the highest in the history of the organisation.
The advocacy of Professor Dodoo for “One Standard, One Test, One Acceptance” across Africa has been instrumental in reducing technical barriers to trade and fostering economic integration.
In his new role, Professor Dodoo would continue to provide strategic guidance to ARSO, mentor emerging leaders in standardisation, and champion the voice of Africa in global standards bodies such as the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Professor Dodoo, in his acceptance remark, said, “This honour is not just a personal milestone but shows the collective efforts of all stakeholders working toward a standardised, competitive, and quality-driven Africa.”
He said, “Our journey is far from over, and I remain committed to the vision of an Africa where standards fuel prosperity.”
As President Emeritus, Professor Dodoo is expected to focus on critical areas such as strengthening Africa’s quality infrastructure, advocating for standards in emerging sectors such as renewable energy and digital economies and bridging the gap between academia, industry, and policymakers in standardisation.
Competence
The Executive Director of the Standards Division at the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), Dr Sadhvir Bissoon, said Prof. Dodoo had contributed towards the leadership of the ARSO Council in driving strategy, governance, “reviewing our laws and statutes and ensuring their implementation”.
“I hope he will still serve the needs and aspirations of ARSO in his new role,” he said in an interview with the Daily Graphic.
Private sector leaders who attended the event also lauded Professor Dodoo’s efforts to align African standards with global best practices.
The Regional Director of COTECNA, a key partner in the continental standards community, Antoine Anne, for his part, said the appointment of Professor Dodoo reaffirmed the commitment of the African continent to excellence.
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EC to conduct elections in selected polling stations at Ablekuma North
As part of its commitment to resolve the impass egarding he Ablekuma North Constituency Parliamentary Election, the Electoral Commission(EC) yesterday, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, met with the representatives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The meeting, which was a follow-up to an earlier meeting held on Thursday, June 12, 2025, provided both parties the opportunity to brief the commission on any new
developments regarding the said constituency.
The parties informed the Commission that their positions put forward at the last mecting remained unchanged.
The NDC held the view that the election should be rerun thirty -seven
(37) Polling Stations because scanned Pink Sheets from 37 Polling Stations which were used to
collate the results, were provided the NPP.
The NPP was of the view that the results from three (3) outstanding Poling Stations be collated and a winner declared since the NDC Agents had verified and confirmed
the scanned Poling Station results they presented.
According to the EC, it is important for the public to understand that the issue in contention has to do with
the fact that 37 Pink Sheets provided by the NPP and used to colate the results were scanned copies.
“The Public may recall that Political Party supporters besieged our Collation Centre and
destroyed a number of the Pink Sheets for the Ablekuma North Parliamentary Elcction during the collation of results following the December 7 Gencral Election,” the EC added.
After extensive deliberations, the Commission informed the Political Parties that it would
proceed to rerun the election in 19
of the 37 Polling Stations.
The Commission arrived at the decision to rerun the election in the underlisted Polling Stations because, the scanned Polling Station resuits used for the collation, though approved by Agents of both political Parties, were not verified by the Presiding Officers responsible for the Polling
Stations.
According to the EC, it is instructive to note that the Commission was able to secure the Presiding Officers
verification and confirmation for 18 scanned Polling Station results-
Agents of both parties also approved same.
The election will be held on Friday, July 11, 2025
The Commission has further urged the Ghana Police Service to provide the needed security to ensure a safe environment for the conduct of the election.
