Democracy Wins Again in Ghana, The Sahel's Mining Sector Overhauled, Namibia's First Female President

12/11/24 • 37 min

We speak to Ghanaian academic and political analyst, DR MICHAEL AMOAH, about his country's impressive record of holding orderly elections that lead to peaceful transitions of power. It's a record that's all the more impressive when compared with many of Ghana's neighbours.

So JOHN MAHAMA returns to power - he served one term in 2012-2016 - and we discuss his to-do list. First up, we hear, he needs to try to cut a better deal with his country's creditors. Ghana is labouring under the worst economic conditions for a generation. Everyone commends the early concession speech by MAHAMADU BAWUMIA.

PATRICK's in Paris from where he gets a close up view of France's political woes and reminds us of its troubles abroad. More and more of its former colonies are turning away and rejecting a French military presence on their territories. The latest to send French troops packing are Chad and Senegal who follow in the footsteps of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.

TIFFANY WOGNAIH, Senior Associate at global consulting firm, J.S.Held, tells us about the demands for more revenue from the mining sectors in the Sahelian Three - Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Following the well publicised arrest of western company executives and a warrant for the arrest of the CEO of a Canadian firm, Tiffany says the investment environment is dramatically altered. While western investors may be wary of future projects, Tiffany suggests that interest from the so-called Middle Powers like Russia, Turkey and Iran could fill the gap.

DONU's fascination with Namibia continues. She approves wholeheartedly of the election of the country's first woman president - NETUMBO NANDI-NDAITWAH - or Triple N as she's known. We hear how Triple N's celebration could be short lived - there's an awful lot to do, not least dealing with the outcome of the parliamentary election that is being contested by the main opposition party.

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Malawi's VP Means Business in Baku, Africa's Last Colony - Western Sahara

As climate talks enter their second week in Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, MICHAEL USI, Malawi's Vice President, says it's time to get serious about past pledges.

And Kenyan pastoralist CHARLES EKALELE tells us why those pledges matter. Changing weather patterns in Turkana County are making people in his community poorer.

Africa's Last Colony. As the US, Spain and most recently France add their support to Morocco's claim over Western Sahara, we ask has the Polisario Front given up on its idea of self determination for the Saharawi people? We speak to the Polisario's man in Washington DC, MOULOUD SAID.

DONU has words of advice for KEMI BADENOCH, whose rise to the top of British politics is still absorbing many Nigerians who say she has turned her back on Nigeria.

PATRICK admits he does take time off work, sometimes. He raves about London's Jazz Festival.

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Some Lighter moments of 2024

In this special year ender, as we round off season 3 of Africa Here and NOW, we look back at some of the moments that made us smile.

The former Nigerian Super Eagle, footballer EFAN EKOKU, made us laugh with his cheeky bet on the winning team in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Then Ghanaian football pundit, GARY AL SMITH, encouraged DONU into revealing what really lays behind the infamous rivalry between Nigeria and South Africa!

Former Nigerian President OLUSEGUN OBASANJO explained how close Niger and Nigeria are in an intriguing way. That was at a time when the West Africa bloc ECOWAS, led by Nigeria, was threatening military action against the military junta who'd carried out a coup.

Political analyst, MOELETSI MBEKI, younger brother to the former South African president, THABO MBEKI, gave us a rare glimpse into Mbeki family life.

Zeinab Badawi talked about her new book, An African History of Africa and also told us a little bit more about herself.

Renowned Zimbabwean journalist and activist, HOPEWELL CHIN'ONO turned to rap to get young Zimbabweans to register to vote.

We asked about AI and how it was going down with the people of Malawi, especially as they'd been so hesitant to embrace the double decker bus!

We found out about a new craze sweeping Somalia: naming children Istanbul, after the Turkish city. It's apparently in recognition of Turkey's support for Somalia through thick and thin.

The Zambian Anglican Bishop TREVOR MWAMBA, bemoaned the state of our humanity and compassion in 2024 and suggested that if Jesus were a refugee at the time of the former UK Conservative government, he'd have been put on a plane to Rwanda.

KEMI BADENOCH, who became the first black woman to lead a British political party - the Tories - created a lot of buzz particularly among her fellow Nigerians who were dismayed at her negative portrayal of Nigeria. DONU offered her some advice, from one Nigerian woman to another.

Botswana's election yielded a seismic result with the ruling party voted out in a landslide. It presented us with a golden opportunity to talk to former President IAN KHAMA about his country's political shift, his plans for the future and his dance moves.

PATRICK and DONU rounded off this bonus episode in characteristic form!

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