The Trials & Tribulations of a Freshly-Arrived Denizen...of Ghana: July 2012

Friday, July 13, 2012

NEWS RELEASE: Encouraging developments as Africa looks to establish Continental Free Trade Area

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <Denekews AT uneca.org>
Date: 2012/7/13
Subject: NEWS RELEASE: Encouraging developments as Africa looks to establish Continental Free Trade Area
To:

Suurce :UNECA News

Encouraging developments as Africa looks to establish Continental Free Trade Area

ECA Press Release No. 115/2012

Addis Ababa, 13 July 2012 (ECA) -As preparations for next week's launch of the fifth edition of Assessing Regional Integration in Africa (ARIA V) get underway in Addis Ababa, the Heads of States Summit of the African Union is once again tackling the theme, Boosting intra-African Trade from 9-16 July 2012. ARIA V is published jointly by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Development Bank (AfDB); and the fifth edition of the report inquires into Africa's Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA). The three institutions affirm that its findings come at a time of renewed political commitment to accelerate the pace of regional integration in Africa as seen in many positive developments, such as steps towards a favorable environment to create the free movement of factors of production.

According to Abdoulie Janneh, Under Secretary-General and ECA Executive Secretary, the case for boosting intra-Africa trade was made at the January Summit of the Heads of States and remains on the agenda of this month’s Assembly of Heads of State and Government. He told the 21st Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council that legitimate observations were made in January, about the limited infrastructure and diversity of goods to allow for successful take-off of the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA). He informed the gathering that ECA has examined these concerns and found that manufactured goods make up 46% of intra-Africa trade as compared with 10% for agricultural goods. “Moreover," said Janneh, "we also found that the degree of infrastructural development was not much higher in a comparable group like MERCOSUR in Latin America when it took off."

Mr. Janneh took the opportunity to re-affirm that ECA will accompany the CFTA process through the auspices of the African Trade Policy Centre, which is supported by Canada. “Specifically, ATPC will draw its future priorities from the mandate given to the AUC and ECA to advance the continental trade agenda.”

He pointed out that boosting intra-Africa trade also depends on the provision of infrastructure and expressed the hope that the G20 initiative on infrastructure financing will gain further traction and that the multilateral finance institutions, particularly the African Development Bank and World Bank will strengthen their instruments for financing regional infrastructure projects. “Such investments will also improve accessibility for humanitarian agencies, which continue to play a crucial role in the continent,” he said.

The overall objective of ARIA V was to contribute analytical insights to shape the debate and the move towards fast-tracking the establishment of a Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) through the removal of outstanding obstacles to trade, including barriers to the free movement of people, investments and factors of production across Africa.

The report is complemented by a number of related products, including a mobile application, a film on intra-African trade, a proposed e-learning platform and a new ECA knowledge online network.

Media inquiries throughout the Summit period:

denekews@uneca.org

More on the report, the film, the mobile app and the discussions at: www.uneca.org/ARIA and http://knowledge.africa-devnet.org/

Issued by:

ECA Information and Communication Service

P.O. Box 3001

Addis Ababa Ethiopia

Tel: 251 11 5445098 Fax: +251-11-551 03 65

E-mail: ecainfo@uneca.org

Web: www.uneca.org

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Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Sittin' and Thinkin' about Google Currents! Here are My Tips!

It was only a couple of weeks ago that my work colleagues and I broached the issue of pushing some, if not most, of our flagship publications onto Android and Tablet formats.

A quick google search revealed there are a number of programmes that can do that, including those which one needs to spend time working on--as one would do with, say, HTML editors, just so one gets a feel of what's happening.

Fortuitously, I would chance upon Google Currents elsewhere over the weekend, and decide to try my luck again at work to see whether I could push some of the content of out just-ended conference on the Africa Mining Vision, which was held at Mensvic Grand Hotel from 26-29th June. If you missed the conference, it's not difficult to catch up at all;

website: http://www.twnafrica.org
Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/events/cu71mo8pea3eu1ghe6tdvjsfi4s/100486382858452552990
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/twnafrica
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/twnafrica
...and finally on Google Currents: https://www.google.com/producer/editions/CAowh6TpAQ/cso_conference_on_africa_mining_vision

The latter is evidently work-in-progress. Undoubtedly, with practise, the diligence to the detail will be second nature, and I intend developing that second nature soon! I look forward to the day I can create an edition for the Android/Tablet formats in under an hour!

A simple note to self and to you is this. Before embarking on any kind of document importing from Google Drive, ensure you have done the following:

1. Back up your material for publication to Google Drive, making sure you have saved most of the work in Google Documents format. If not, export it to Google Docs/Drive format.

2. Take note that it Google Currents does NOT seem to like PPT or PDF extensions, so ensure you upload .DOCX/DOC files (Microsoft Word), which you can in turn convert

3. Plan your edition layout on paper beforehand

4. upload documents into the ARTICLES section

5. Master your sections

Go publish!

Friday, July 06, 2012

Call for Papers: Third Congress of African Economists -- DEADLINE: Nov 2012

Eng Congress La_Commission_organise_toutes_les_2_ans_le_Congres1 (1).pdf Download this file

from: http://au.int/en/dp/ea/content/call-papers-third-congress-african-economists

Call for Papers: Third Congress of African Economists

Fri, 2012-06-29 17:41 — admin

THIRD CONGRESS OF AFRICAN ECONOMISTS

Call for Papers

The Commission of the African Union organises every two years the Congress of African Economists in order to identify and analyse the economic problems marking African countries and to propose for them an effective and lasting therapy. This Congress will bring together the best African Economists in the Diaspora and those living in Africa. The First Congress was organised on the theme: “Towards the establishment of a Single African Currency”. The Second Congress focused on “How to achieve strong and sustainable Economic growth in Africa so as to reduce unemployment and sustain the dynamics of Regional and Continental integration”.

The next Congress, the Third one, will discuss the theme: “Industrialisation and Economic emergence in Africa”.

During this Congress, the following sub-themes, among others, will be considered: Can Africa develop without getting industrialised? ; the impediments to industrialisation in Africa; Technology Transfer and Industrialisation in Africa; Agro-industry and African Industrialisation; Industrialisation, Growth and Employment; Role of the Industry in the emergence of African economies; Economic Emergence: criteria, manifestations and prospects; Economic Emergence and Integration; Economic Emergence: Should it be done at national, regional or continental level? ; Partnerships with the rest of the world: assets or brakes to the industrialization and emergence process?; China-Africa Cooperation: Advantages and Disadvantages for African economies; how can Africa tap part of the value added generated from its natural resources?; Which industrial policy is necessary to boost the Industrialisation process in Africa?; Industrialisation in Africa: Role of the State, the private sector and the outside world.

Articles on the main theme and on the sub-themes are sought from African Economists, those of the Diaspora and those interested in the resolution of economic problems in Africa.

The Articles must be accompanied by a summary not exceeding 1000 words
and must be sent to the Commission on 15 November 2012 at the latest. The
participation in the Congress of the authors of the Articles chosen will be borne by the Commission of the African Union.

All the African Economists (those of the Continent like those of the Diaspora), all the
economists across the world who are interested in the problems of African economies as well as all the development partner institutions are invited to this important Congress which will be held during 2013 at a venue and date to be communicated at the appropriate time.

For more details, please contact:
Mr. Yeo Dossina, Ms. Fetun Getahun,
E-mail : DossinaY@africa-union.org; FetunG@africa-union.org;
Tel: +251-11-552 6373; Fax: +251-11-551 0249,
African Union Commission, P.O. Box: 3243
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
www.au.int

Wednesday, July 04, 2012

[African Citizens] PRESS RELEASE - 19 th AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT

Comrades,

Important information on the upcoming AU Summit! Enjoy!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Desire Assogbavi <desire.assogbavi AT oxfaminternational.org>
Date: 2012/7/4
Subject: [African Citizens] PRESS RELEASE - 19 th AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT
To: AfricanCitizens AT yahoogroups.com

AFRICAN UNION		UNION AFRICAINE
		UNIÃO AFRICANA
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia P. O. Box 3243 Téléphone : 5517 700 Fax : 5511299 website : www. africa-union.org

DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION

PRESS RELEASE N0. 01/ 19th AU SUMMIT

NINETEENTH AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT TO FOCUS ON BOOSTING INTRA-AFRICAN TRADE

Addis Ababa, 3^rd July 2012 – The 19^th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) is scheduled to take place from 09 to 16 July 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Holding under the theme: “Boosting Intra-African Trade”, the 19^th Ordinary Session of the Summit of the African Union will officially kick off on Monday 9^th July 2012, with the 24^th Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC). The PRC will discuss items on the agenda in preparation of the upcoming AU Summit, to be submitted to the Executive Council for adoption.

According to the PRC agenda for the 19^th AU Summit, the Ambassadors will, for two days (09 and 10 July 2012) exchange views on specific reports including the reports of the Advisory Sub-committee on administrative, budgetary and financial matters; sub-committee on programmes and conferences; sub-committee on structures; multilateral cooperation;; economic and trade matters; the report on the NEPAD as well as that of the refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons in Africa). They will consider the working documents and draft decisions in preparation for the 21^st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council.

On the other hand, the 21^st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council will hold from 12 to 13 July 2012 at the headquarters of the AU in Addis Ababa. The Ministers of External Affairs and other ministers or authorities designated by the governments of AU Member States will deliberate on the different reports of the ministerial meetings organised by the AU Commission during the last six months. They will consider the activity report of the Commission; the recommendations of the PRC on the implementation of previous Decisions of the Executive Council and the Assembly; and the report of the ministerial committee on candidatures.

The Executive Council will further look into reports of some AU Organs including the Pan-African Parliament (PAP); the African Committee of the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC); the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the Union (ECOSOCC); the African Union Advisory Board on Corruption; and the African Union Commission on International Law (AUCIL) before embarking on the consideration of items proposed by Member States. One of the high moments during the Executive Council meeting will be the election of Commissioners of the African Union and the election of three judges of the African Court of Human and People’s Rights (AfCHPR) as well as the appointment of one judge of the AU Ad-Hoc Administrative Tribunal.

The 19^th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union is scheduled to take place on 15 and 16 July 2012.

AU Summit to Discuss President’s Report of Activity:

The AU Heads of State and Government will consider the recommendations of the Executive Council on the report of the Commission on the implementation of previous Decisions of the Executive Council and the Assembly; the report of the Peace and Security Council on its activities and the state of peace and security in Africa, including the activities of the Panel of the Wise; the report of Mr. Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Chairperson of NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC); and that on Africa’s preparation for the Climate Change Negotiations at the 18^th Conference of Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (COP18), in his capacity as Coordinator of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC).

The Presidents and Heads of Delegations will also exchange views on the report of Mr. Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the Republic of Congo and Africa’s Coordinator on the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20) .They will discuss the report of Mr. Ernest Bai Koroma, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Chairperson of the Committee of Ten on the UN Reforms.

The Assembly will further consider the report of the High Level Committee of Heads of State and Government/ Chair of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) on Boosting Intra-African Trade, among others. According to the agenda of the Summit, the Heads of State will proceed to the election of the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

For more information, consult the African Union website: www.au.int and visit the 19^th Summit web page of the AU at the following link: http://au.int/en/summit/19thsummit

Journalists wishing to interview the leadership of the AU Commission during the Summit should submit their requests to Mrs Esther Azaa Tankou E-mail: YambouE@africa-union.org / esthertankou@yahoo.com

********************************
Desire Assogbavi (Mr.)
Head of Office
Oxfam International
Liaison Office with the African Union
TK Building - Bole Airport Area Suite 406
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tel.: +251 11 661 1601
+251 11 661 2492 (direct line)
Mobile: +251 911 20 83 32

Fax: +251 661 2795
E-mail: desire.assogbavi@oxfaminternational.org

----- Forwarded by Desire Assogbavi/Addis Ababa/International/Oxfam on 04/07/2012 18:19 -----

From: Tankou Azza Esther <YambouE@africa-union.org>
To: Wynne Musabayana <MUSABAYANAW@africa-union.org>, Asmerom Girma <AsmeromG@africa-union.org>, Yaye Nabo Sene <SENEY@africa-union.org>, "afraht@hotmail.com" <afraht@hotmail.com>, "Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar" <GamalK@africa-union.org>, Mike Fikre <m_fikre@hotmail.com>, Molalet Tsedeke <MolaletT@africa-union.org>, Seblu Zenebe <SebluZ@africa-union.org>, Rahel Akalewold <RahelA@africa-union.org>
Cc: Habiba Mejri-cheikh <HabibaM@africa-union.org>
Date: 04/07/2012 18:10
Subject: PRESS RELEASE - NINETEENTH AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT TO FOCUS ON BOOSTING INTRA-AFRICAN TRADE

AFRICAN UNION		UNION AFRICAINE
		UNIÃO AFRICANA
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia P. O. Box 3243 Téléphone : 5517 700 Fax : 5511299 website : www. africa-union.org

DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION

PRESS RELEASE N0. 01/ 19th AU SUMMIT

NINETEENTH AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT TO FOCUS ON BOOSTING INTRA-AFRICAN TRADE

Addis Ababa, 3^rd July 2012 – The 19^th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) is scheduled to take place from 09 to 16 July 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Holding under the theme: “Boosting Intra-African Trade”, the 19^th Ordinary Session of the Summit of the African Union will officially kick off on Monday 9^th July 2012, with the 24^th Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC). The PRC will discuss items on the agenda in preparation of the upcoming AU Summit, to be submitted to the Executive Council for adoption.

According to the PRC agenda for the 19^th AU Summit, the Ambassadors will, for two days (09 and 10 July 2012) exchange views on specific reports including the reports of the Advisory Sub-committee on administrative, budgetary and financial matters; sub-committee on programmes and conferences; sub-committee on structures; multilateral cooperation;; economic and trade matters; the report on the NEPAD as well as that of the refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons in Africa). They will consider the working documents and draft decisions in preparation for the 21^st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council.

On the other hand, the 21^st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council will hold from 12 to 13 July 2012 at the headquarters of the AU in Addis Ababa. The Ministers of External Affairs and other ministers or authorities designated by the governments of AU Member States will deliberate on the different reports of the ministerial meetings organised by the AU Commission during the last six months. They will consider the activity report of the Commission; the recommendations of the PRC on the implementation of previous Decisions of the Executive Council and the Assembly; and the report of the ministerial committee on candidatures.

The Executive Council will further look into reports of some AU Organs including the Pan-African Parliament (PAP); the African Committee of the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC); the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the Union (ECOSOCC); the African Union Advisory Board on Corruption; and the African Union Commission on International Law (AUCIL) before embarking on the consideration of items proposed by Member States. One of the high moments during the Executive Council meeting will be the election of Commissioners of the African Union and the election of three judges of the African Court of Human and People’s Rights (AfCHPR) as well as the appointment of one judge of the AU Ad-Hoc Administrative Tribunal.

The 19^th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union is scheduled to take place on 15 and 16 July 2012.

AU Summit to Discuss President’s Report of Activity:

The AU Heads of State and Government will consider the recommendations of the Executive Council on the report of the Commission on the implementation of previous Decisions of the Executive Council and the Assembly; the report of the Peace and Security Council on its activities and the state of peace and security in Africa, including the activities of the Panel of the Wise; the report of Mr. Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Chairperson of NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC); and that on Africa’s preparation for the Climate Change Negotiations at the 18^th Conference of Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (COP18), in his capacity as Coordinator of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC).

The Presidents and Heads of Delegations will also exchange views on the report of Mr. Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the Republic of Congo and Africa’s Coordinator on the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20) .They will discuss the report of Mr. Ernest Bai Koroma, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Chairperson of the Committee of Ten on the UN Reforms.

The Assembly will further consider the report of the High Level Committee of Heads of State and Government/ Chair of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) on Boosting Intra-African Trade, among others. According to the agenda of the Summit, the Heads of State will proceed to the election of the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

For more information, consult the African Union website: www.au.int and visit the 19^th Summit web page of the AU at the following link: http://au.int/en/summit/19thsummit

Journalists are invited to cover the official opening and closing ceremonies of the 24^th Ordinary Session of the PRC on 9 and 10 July 2012, the 21^st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council 12 and 13 July 2012 and the 19^th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly on 15 and 16 July 2012.

Journalists wishing to interview the leadership of the AU Commission during the Summit should submit their requests to Mrs Esther Azaa Tankou E-mail: YambouE@africa-union.org / esthertankou@yahoo.com

Tankou Azza Esther

Information Officer

Communications and Information Unit

African Union Commission

Tel:	(251) 11 551 77 00
Mobile:
Fax:	(251) 11 551 78 44
Email:	YambouE@africa-union.org
Web:	www.au.int

Roosvelt Street(Old Airport Area)W21K19

3243

Addis Ababa

Ethiopia

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