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Parliament condemns systemic racism against blacks
Parliament has condemned what it describes as the systemic and continuous racism against black people in the United States of America (USA), in the wake of murder of George Floyd.
The African-American was killed by a team of police during an arrest in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020.
He died while a police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck for eight minutes, 46 seconds.
The death of George Floyd, who has since been interred close to his late mother in the Houston suburb of Pearland, has sparked global protests with the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter.
Adding his voice to the global condemnation in a statement in Parliament yesterday, the North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the death of the 46-year old must mark the end of the centuries old racism that blacks have endured.
According to Mr Ablakwa who doubles as the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, “racial injustice is a global issue and affects all of us.”
“A clear message,” he said “must go forth that the black race has had enough.
“From slavery, colonialism, neo-colonialism, economic exploitation to structural and institutional racism, we have simply had enough. Black lives matter! We must force all those knees off our necks!
“We hope US authorities will ensure justice is manifestly done. May this become a watershed moment in history and a positive turning point for blacks in that country.”
The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, on his part said the murder of the late Floyd must be a wake-up call to all Africans.
He said the global condemnation of police should trigger a change in the use of minimum force because “eight minutes and 46 seconds on the neck of a suffocating person can’t be minimum force.”
Mr Iddrisu, MP, Tamale South said American constitution guarantees the rights and liberties of all citizens and non-citizens and that the leadership of the country must uphold that tenet.
The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, said America as the beacon of democracy must not be seen doing the opposite of what democratic dispensations are supposed to be.
“Why should America that is supposed to be the lead in democratic governance be advertising such heinous and barbaric crimes?
“America needs to do a serious introspection,” he stated.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI
The Diaspora Affairs Office at the Office of the President has hosted a delegation of African diaspora women who are in Ghana ahead of a planned Presidential Conferment of Citizenship ceremony.
The Director of Diaspora Affairs, Kofi Okyere Darko, explained in a Facebook post that the visit was a gesture of appreciation by the delegation to the Government of Ghana for its continued efforts to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with their ancestral homeland.
He indicated that the ceremony, scheduled for next Monday, will officially grant Ghanaian citizenship to members of the delegation as part of the country’s broader engagement with the African diaspora.
The delegation was led by Erica Bennett, Founder of the Diaspora Africa Forum.
According to Mr Okyere Darko, her years of advocacy have played an important role in strengthening ties between Africa and people of African descent living abroad.
He noted that the group’s journey towards citizenship represents not only a legal process but also a cultural and spiritual return to their roots.
Also present at the meeting was Natalie Jackson, an attorney who is also expected to receive Ghanaian citizenship during the ceremony. She works closely with renowned civil rights lawyer Ben Crump.
Mr Okyere Darko emphasised that Ghana remains committed to strengthening relationships with the African diaspora and promoting unity, identity, and shared heritage among people of African descent worldwide.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana has signed a debt restructuring agreement with the Kingdom of Belgium as part of efforts to restore the country’s economic stability after the financial crisis that hit the nation in 2022 and 2023.
The Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, today disclosed that he signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of Ghana.
He explained that Ghana experienced a very difficult period during the crisis, which forced the government at the time to declare a debt default.
However, he indicated that the country is now recovering and witnessing a significant economic turnaround.
According to him, stronger systems are also being put in place to ensure that Ghana does not return to such a situation again.
Dr Forson noted that the agreement with Belgium is the eighth deal Ghana has concluded with countries under the Official Creditor Committee as part of its external debt restructuring programme.
He expressed appreciation to the Government of Belgium for its support and partnership with Ghana during the process.
The Finance Minister thanked Carole van Eyll, Ambassador of Belgium to Ghana, for her role in strengthening relations between the two countries.
The agreement forms part of Ghana’s broader effort to restructure its external debts and stabilise the economy following the crisis.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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