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Solomon Owusu, Andrew Appiah Danquah file Petition for removal of AfCFTA Secretary-General over Xenophobia attacks in South Africa
Political activist Solomon Owusu and lawyer Andrew Appiah-Danquah have filed a petition with the African Union (AU) seeking the removal of Wamkele Keabetswe Mene as Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat over concerns about recurring xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
The petition, dated May 31, 2026, was addressed to the African Union Commission, the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, and the Council of Ministers Responsible for Trade under the AfCFTA.
The two petitioners argued that the continued leadership of the AfCFTA Secretariat by a South African national is inconsistent with the goals of African unity and integration because of South Africa’s record of xenophobic violence against fellow Africans.
According to the petition, the AfCFTA represents Africa’s most significant economic integration initiative and is intended to promote intra-African trade, free movement of people and investment, and stronger cooperation among African countries.
They said the Secretary-General serves not only as an administrator but also as a symbol of the Pan-African vision.
Mr. Owusu and Mr. Appiah-Danquah stated that citizens from several African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, have over the years suffered assaults, displacement, destruction of property and other forms of violence during xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
The petitioners said their concerns were not directed at Mr. Mene personally or against the people of South Africa.
Rather, they maintained that the issue concerns the moral authority and credibility of institutions tasked with advancing African integration.
While acknowledging Mr. Mene’s professional achievements and contributions to the establishment of the AfCFTA Secretariat, they argued that leadership of a major Pan-African institution requires more than administrative competence.
According to them, it also requires moral authority and a strong commitment to the ideals of African solidarity.
The petition further noted that many African countries supported South Africa’s struggle against apartheid through political, diplomatic and material assistance.
The petitioners argued that the recurring attacks on African migrants undermine the spirit of solidarity that contributed to South Africa’s liberation.
They contended that the success of the AfCFTA depends on trust among Africans and confidence that citizens can move, work, trade and invest across the continent without fear of discrimination or hostility.
As part of the reliefs sought, the petitioners called on the African Union to review Mr. Mene’s continued suitability for the position, establish a high-level inquiry into the effect of xenophobia on African integration efforts, and consider appointing a replacement Secretary-General from another member state.
They urged the AU to adopt policies requiring candidates for leadership positions in key continental institutions to demonstrate a commitment to Pan-Africanism and African solidarity, as well as develop a framework to monitor and address xenophobia across member states.
The petition was submitted in Accra on May 31, 2026.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
Oxfam in Ghana donates medical equipment and essential drugs worth GH¢1.5 million to Kasoa Polyclinic
Oxfam in Ghana has donated medical equipment and essential drugs worth about GH¢1.5 million to the Kasoa Polyclinic to strengthen maternal and reproductive healthcare services in the municipality.
The presentation, which took place on Tuesday, June 24, 2026, at the premises of the clinic in Kasoa, formed part of the sustainability and legacy activities under the Power to Choose (P2C) Project.
The donated items included delivery beds, maternity beds, oxygen cylinders, neonatal resuscitation equipment, blood pressure monitors, newborn weighing scales, suction machines, delivery kits, essential medicines, medical theatre wear and other critical supplies to support quality healthcare delivery.
The Power to Choose Project is a seven-year initiative being implemented by Oxfam in Ghana in partnership with the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), WiLDAF Ghana, SEND Ghana, Norsaac and PARDA, with funding from Global Affairs Canada through Oxfam Quebec.
The project seeks to improve sexual and reproductive health and rights for young people, particularly adolescent girls, young women and young men living in vulnerable and marginalised conditions.
Addressing nurses and management of the hospital, the Country Director for Oxfam in Ghana, Mohammed-Anwar Sadat Adam, said the project, which began in 2021 and will run until early 2028, is being implemented in seven countries across Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.
He said Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo are the two African countries benefiting from the project.
Mr. Adam noted that the project has already trained about 102 health workers in areas including youth-friendly services, emergency obstetric and neonatal care, family planning, gender-based violence response, respectful maternity care and inclusive healthcare delivery.
He said Oxfam and its partners conducted assessments at beneficiary facilities and identified equipment needs to help improve healthcare delivery.
According to him, the donation would create safe spaces where young women and girls could seek healthcare services without fear or stigma and would improve health outcomes in the community.
Mr. Adam thanked the Government of Canada, the Ghana Health Service, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Ghana (SOGOG), World Health Ghana and other partners for supporting the implementation of the project.
He urged the beneficiary facilities to ensure that the equipment is properly used and maintained to serve the community for many years.
A speech by the Municipal Health Director for Awutu Senya East, Dr. Stanley Kweku Yaidoo, which was read on his behalf by the Municipal Accountant, Rev. Dr. Askari Thomas, described the donation as timely and important.
He said quality healthcare delivery depends on manpower, financial resources and equipment, adding that healthcare workers cannot effectively deliver services without the necessary tools.
Dr. Yaidoo thanked Oxfam and its partners for selecting Kasoa as one of the beneficiary facilities and assured them that the equipment would be put to good use.
The Acting Medical Superintendent of Kasoa Polyclinic, Dr. Papa Kojo Arthur, expressed appreciation to Oxfam for its continuous support over the years through training and capacity building.
He said the equipment would greatly support the effective management of patients, particularly in maternal and child healthcare.
According to him, the donation would help reduce maternal and perinatal mortality in the municipality.
The donation formed part of efforts to strengthen the capacity of youth-friendly health facilities in eight implementing districts across five regions of Ghana to continue providing quality and accessible sexual and reproductive healthcare services beyond the lifespan of the project.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts (MoTCCA) has announced that an electronic copy of Ghana’s revised National Cultural Policy is now available online for free access by the public and stakeholders in the creative sector.
In a statement issued on June 22, the ministry said the revised policy was officially launched on June 9, 2026, at the National Theatre of Ghana in Accra.
According to the ministry, the decision to upload the document on its official website is aimed at ensuring widespread dissemination, increasing public awareness and promoting the effective implementation of the policy.
The ministry encouraged sector practitioners, stakeholders and members of the public to visit its website and read the document.
“The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, in the spirit of the Black Star Experience, remains committed to a transparent, inclusive and collaborative approach to building the better Ghana we want,” the statement said.
It added that it looks forward to the active participation of stakeholders in implementing the policy for the benefit of the country.
The ministry urged the public to take advantage of the free access to the policy document and familiarise themselves with its contents.
By: Jacob Aggrey
