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“Take urgent steps to address Africa’s digital divide” – Speaker of Parliament urges African parliaments
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The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has urged African parliaments to take urgent steps to address the digital divide between countries and regions, citing the technological gap between the parliaments of Rwanda and Ghana as an example.
He indicated that the uneven access to modern technology and digital tools across the continent was affecting the efficiency of parliamentary work and the ability to share information seamlessly.
He stressed that bridging the gap would not only improve parliamentary reporting but also enhance democratic governance and accountability.
Mr Bagbin further noted that innovation in parliamentary processes was no longer optional but essential in a world that is fast embracing technology.
He said closing the technological gap would require political will, resource allocation, and collaboration among African countries.
He made the call at the opening of the 11th Biennial Conference of the Commonwealth Hansard Editors Association Africa Region currently underway in Accra.
The five-day conference, slated for August 11 to 15, 2025, has brought together parliamentary Hansard editors from across the continent to share experiences, build capacity, and strengthen professional networks within the Commonwealth.
The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin, commended the organisers for creating a platform that fosters cooperation among African parliaments.
He said enhancing the capacity of Hansard editors was critical to preserving the integrity of parliamentary records and ensuring public access to debates.
He urged African governments to invest more in training and technology for parliamentary staff, adding that this would help bridge the knowledge and skills gap in the production of parliamentary records.
Mr Afenyo Markin called for greater collaboration between majority and minority sides in parliament, stressing that unity in preserving accurate records of proceedings was vital for democracy and historical accountability.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The 29th Annual Dagaaba-Frafra Friendly Games have once again demonstrated that sports can be a powerful vehicle for cultural preservation, business networking, friendship and peaceful coexistence.
Held at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra last Saturday, the games brought together members of the two ethnic groups from across Ghana and abroad for a colourful celebration under the theme, “Unity in Diversity: The Dagaaba-Frafra Model for Peaceful Co-existence.”
The event, which has evolved from a friendly football match into a major annual gathering, featured football, volleyball, sack races, lime and spoon, tug-of-peace and a penalty shootout for senior citizens.
At the end of the competitions, the Frafra won four events, while the Dagaaba secured victories in five, with the men’s soccer match ending in a draw.
The Frafra triumphed in the men’s lime and spoon, men’s sack race, women’s sack race and women’s soccer, while the Dagaaba won the women’s lime and spoon, men’s volleyball, women’s volleyball, women’s tug-of-peace and the senior citizens’ penalty shootout.
However, the games extended far beyond the sporting arena. The stadium grounds and surrounding spaces became a vibrant marketplace, with patrons enjoying and purchasing a variety of traditional foods, drinks and cultural products.
Local delicacies, including TZ, tubaani, bambara beans, pork, guinea fowl, local fowls, dog meat and kosie, were sold alongside traditional alcoholic beverages. Traditional dresses and other culturally inspired items also attracted buyers, turning the gathering into an important platform for small businesses and vendors to make sales while promoting northern Ghanaian culture.
The cultural exchange continued long after the final sporting contests, as patrons remained at the venue to eat, drink, socialise, dance and party well into the night.
In her remarks, the Guest of Honour, Dr Matilda Aberese-Ako, said the gathering represented much more than competition, describing the Dagaaba-Frafra relationship as a historic bond that had evolved into a modern sporting tradition and an instrument for peace.
MTN Ghana has been the headline sponsor for the games for the past 10 years.
By Gordon Wellu
By Gordon Wellu
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MTN Ghana has undertaken a tree-planting exercise at the Chipa Forest Reserve as part of its commitment to protecting the planet and support the restoration of degraded sections of the forest.
The activity forms part of the company’s 2026 Sustainability Month celebration held under the theme “Small Actions: Big Impact,” and its 30th anniversary celebration.
It was held in partnership with the Forestry Commission (FC) and the Rainforest Alliance with MTN Ghana supporting the restoration of approximately two hectares of degraded forest through the planting of 1,666 trees.
Due to the current dry weather conditions, 833 trees were planted during the exercise, with the remaining 833 to be planted when the rain commences.
The exercise brought together MTN employee volunteers, officials from the Forestry Commission and representatives of the Rainforest Alliance, demonstrating the importance of collaboration in driving environmental sustainability.
Speaking at the event, the Acting General Manager for Sustainability and Shared Value at MTN Ghana, Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, emphasized the critical role trees play in sustaining life and protecting the environment.
“Trees are essential to human survival and healthy ecosystems. They absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, regulate temperatures, protect soil, support biodiversity and provide habitats for many species. They also conserve water, reduce erosion and help communities adapt to the effects of climate change,” she said.
The District Manager of the Tema-Ada Forest Services Division of the Forestry Commission, Linda Ansah, welcomed MTN Ghana’s support, describing it as a valuable contribution to efforts aimed at restoring degraded sections of the reserve.
The Country Director of the Rainforest Alliance, Nicholas Jengri, also welcomed the partnership and emphasised the importance of collective action in addressing environmental challenges.
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