Shortage of gas downs power in Ghana
A shortage of gas to generate power has triggered nationwide power outages in Ghana.
The country’s power distribution firm – Ghana Grid Company Limited or GRIDCo, says the situation has caused “a supply gap of 550MW at peak time” at the Tema power plant near the capital, Accra.
The major outage, which started on Thursday, is coming when Ghana is currently going through its worst economic crisis in a generation.
A June study said the country’s current energy provision was “critically unhealthy and tottering towards a power crisis”.
The power situation, which could worsen in the coming years, has been exacerbated by the country’s financial distress, the Centre for Socioeconomic Studies study showed.
In July, independent power producers in the country threatened to shut down operations over arrears owed to them Electricity Company of Ghana.
In a statement sighted by BBC News on Thursday, GRIDCo, the power operator, said electricity supply to consumers in some parts of Ghana would be curtailed as a result of “limited gas supply” to the Tema power plant.
The power utility firm did not say what had caused the problem with gas supplies or say how long it would take for normal supplies to resume.
Ghana has for several years been experiencing power shortages popularly known as “dumsor”, which means on and off in the Akan language.
The West African country gets much of its electricity from hydro and thermal sources, but these are often poorly maintained.
Outrage as Uganda set to name road after slayed foreign couple tourists
Uganda’s Government plan to name a road in the country after murdered foreigners – David Barlow and Emmaretia Geyer has sparked a public uproar.
British citizen David Barlow and his South African wife Emmaretia Geyer were shot dead on their honeymoon.
Police said the attackers also burned their car in the 17 October attack.
Some Ugandans have criticised the government for honouring the foreign couple yet excluding Eric Alyai, the Ugandan guide killed alongside them.
Authorities say the couple, from Berkshire in the UK, was on a visit to see gorillas and other primates at the Queen Elizabeth National Park when they were killed in an attack by the Allied Democratic Forces or ADF.
ADF is an Islamic State-linked rebel group with a presence in western Uganda, but which mostly operates in the eastern part of the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
The government has also faced criticism for planning a memorial for the foreigners but failing to take any action to honour the many Ugandans killed by the ADF in previous attacks, BBC News gathered.
Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces takeover of Nyala brings jubilation
Sudan’s Rapid Support Force’s takeover of Nyala in Darfur from the army has been lauded by many Sudanese.
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army have engaged themselves after months of fighting, several sources have told the BBC.
One eyewitness said residents were celebrating because they hoped it meant an end to the violence.
The fighting has forced more than 670,000 people to flee their homes.
The city’s hospitals have been destroyed, and bodies are said to be lining the streets.
This major advance for the RSF comes as the two warring sides were set to resume peace talks in Saudi Arabia.
The army has not commented on its defeat in Nyala.
Nyala, the capital of South Darfur State, is a strategic city connecting Sudan with Central African Republic or CAR.
The RSF originated in Darfur and has been accused of atrocities against non-Arab groups in the region during this year’s conflict.
High-ranking army generals, including the head of the military in Nyala, were killed in battle a few weeks ago.
RSF’s second-in-command Abdulrahim Daglo, who was sanctioned by the US for his alleged role in ethnic cleansing in West Darfur, led the capture of Nyala.
Eyewitnesses have reported that RSF fighters have been looting and storming civilian houses since they seized the city.
Nigeria minister prays for peace, nation building after Supreme Court judgment
Aftermath of the Nigeria Supreme Court judgment and the controversies trailing it, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris has called on all political parties, all and sundry to put election woos behind and focus on building the country.
The Nigerian apex court, sitting in the nation’s capital of Abuja, had on Thursday, 26, 2023, affirmed the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Inyang Okoro described the petitions filed as not lacking “merit”.
In a press conference on Friday in Abuja, the Minister said, “now that the legal contest regarding the outcome of the Presidential election is now behind us, it is time for all of us to come together and move forward into a season of governing that is without distraction.”
Addressing recent developments in the country, the minister admitted the challenging economic ties around the world and called on all hands to be on deck to address the challenges.
Israel-Palestine crisis: drone injures six in Egyptian border town
Six people were injured when a yet-to-be-identified drone crashed early Friday into the Egyptian town of Taba, which borders Israel, a country at loggerhead with Palestinian Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Egyptian army reported.
“An unidentified drone crashed on the outskirts of a building adjacent to Taba hospital on Friday, causing six minor injuries,” its spokesman said on Facebook.
Previously, AlQahera News television, which is close to Egyptian intelligence, had reported “a rocket” fired by an unidentified party “as part of the current escalation in Gaza”.
Witnesses confirmed to AFP that the projectile had hit a hospital annexe in this Red Sea town on the northeastern tip of Sinai, where there is a border crossing with Israel.
Images broadcast by the local media and social networks showed a damaged building and several vehicles blown up in the vicinity.
The Sinai desert peninsula is bordered to the northwest by the Gaza Strip and shares its eastern border with Israel.
Egypt, the historic mediator between Palestinians and Israelis, which holds Gaza’s only gateway to the world that is not in Israeli hands, has been on the front line since 7 October.
On that day, Hamas carried out an unprecedented surprise attack on Israeli soil that has since claimed more than 1,400 lives. In retaliation, Israel is now relentlessly bombing the Gaza Strip, killing around 7,000 people according to the local authorities.
Hamas, which is in power in Gaza, like other Palestinian armed groups, regularly fires barrages of rockets into Israeli territory. It also has small homemade drones.
On Sunday, the Israeli army announced that it had “mistakenly” fired one of its tanks at an Egyptian position on the outskirts of the Gaza Strip. Egypt reported the incident and apologised to the Israeli army, which reported “minor injuries” among its ranks. Egypt organised a “Peace Summit” on Sunday.
It is constantly calling for de-escalation between Israel and Hamas. On Wednesday, President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi reviewed his troops in Suez, at the entrance to Sinai, calling for “reason” and “patience”, while urging his men to “always be ready”.
Shortage of Gas Downs Power in Ghana
A gas shortage has led to nationwide power outages in Ghana, causing a supply gap of 550MW during peak times at the Tema power plant near Accra. This comes amid Ghana's worst economic crisis in a generation. A June study indicated Ghana's energy provision is nearing a power crisis, exacerbated by financial distress. Independent power producers have previously threatened to shut down over unpaid arrears. GRIDCo announced curtailments in electricity supply due to the limited gas but did not provide specifics on the cause or duration of the issue. Ghana has experienced power shortages, known as "dumsor," due to poorly maintained hydro and thermal sources.
Outrage as Uganda Set to Name Road After Slayed Foreign Couple Tourists
Uganda's plan to name a road after murdered foreigners David Barlow and Emmaretia Geyer has sparked public outrage. The couple was shot dead on their honeymoon, and their car was burned. Some Ugandans have criticized the government for excluding Eric Alyai, a Ugandan guide killed alongside them. The couple was visiting the Queen Elizabeth National Park when attacked by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an IS-linked rebel group. Criticism has also arisen for planning a memorial for the foreigners while ignoring Ugandans previously killed by the ADF.
Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces Takeover of Nyala Brings Jubilation
Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have taken over Nyala in South Darfur from the army, which some Sudanese are celebrating as an end to ongoing violence. The conflict has displaced over 670,000 people and destroyed city infrastructure. The RSF's advance comes as they resume peace talks with the army in Saudi Arabia. Nyala is a strategic city connecting Sudan with the Central African Republic. The RSF, led by Abdulrahim Daglo, accused of ethnic cleansing, has been looting and storming civilian homes since the takeover.
Nigeria Minister Prays for Peace, Nation Building After Supreme Court Judgment
Following Nigeria's Supreme Court judgment affirming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's victory, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris called for unity and focus on national development. The Supreme Court ruled the election petitions lacked merit. Idris urged all political parties to move forward, acknowledging global economic challenges and calling for collective efforts to address them.
Israel-Palestine Crisis: Drone Injures Six in Egyptian Border Town
Six people were injured when an unidentified drone crashed in Taba, Egypt, near the Israel border amid ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. Initial reports cited a rocket, and witnesses confirmed the projectile hit near a hospital. Taba is a strategic location on the Sinai Peninsula, bordering Gaza and Israel. Egypt, acting as a mediator, has called for de-escalation and reviewed its troops at Sinai's entrance, emphasizing readiness and patience. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties on both sides, with Egypt actively pursuing peace initiatives.
