AFRICA

‘Doggy style’ is dangerous; it can kill – Minister warns

“No two ways that Doggy style is the most practiced sexual position during intercourse, the act is dangerous and can send one to his grave than you could ever imagine”, South Africa’s Minister of Health, Aaron Motsoaledi told The Insider. According to the minister in the interview sighted on The …

Read More »

It is unrealistic to abstain from sex – Dr. Tapang

The former Chief Executive Officer of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr. Daniel Tapang in 2006 questioned the campaign strategy of HIV/AIDS educators who were advising the youth to stay away from sex. Dr. Daniel Tapang argued that “sex is biologically driven” and, therefore, it was impossible to ask the youth …

Read More »

Nigeria’s high infant HIV infection rate

Despite new claims of a significant reduction in national Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome prevalence rate in Nigeria, it is quite mortifying that the country still tops the mother-to-child transmission rate in the world. This is evidence that a lot needs to be done before the epidemic can be …

Read More »

Notable African deaths of 2019

A look back at some of the figures on the African continent who we said farewell to this year. January Oliver Mtukudzi, Zimbabwean musician, 66: He came to prominence in the 1970s as one of voices of the revolution fighting white-minority rule. Affectionately known as “Tuku”, his lyrics often carried …

Read More »

Free SHS Has Increased Enrolment By 69 Percent

The Free Senior High School Policy has increased enrolment in secondary schools by 69 percent within the last three years, Vice President Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia said. “There was a lot of skepticism about whether we could actually implement the free senior high school education, but with conviction and determination …

Read More »

Africa’s fake news of the year

A man raised from dead, an imposter as president, Jesus on a visit, or imminent attacks: The lines between reality and fiction were outrageously blurred on African social media networks in 2019. South Africa was the scene of a resurrection miracle, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari was said to have died …

Read More »

Truck bomb kills at least 90 in Mogadishu

At least 90 people were killed when a bomb-laden truck exploded at a busy checkpoint in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Saturday, an international organization working in the country said, in the deadliest attack in more than two years. The dead included many students and two Turkish nationals, Somalia’s foreign …

Read More »

West Africa’s new currency, the Eco: Rebrand or fresh start?

Many Africans cheered and applauded when Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara announced on Saturday “that, in agreement with the other West African Economic and Monetary Union Heads of State, we have decided to reform the CFA franc with the following three major changes: First, the name change of the currency …

Read More »

WHO statistics show that Accra’s air is highly contaminated

Latest statistics from the World Health Organisation shows that Ghana’s capital, Accra, is less congenial for human habitation due to unacceptable levels of contaminants in the air. The data, which is based on perceptions of persons surveyed over a period of three years, is presented below.  It indicates a very low perception if the value is …

Read More »

TUTAG strikes again

The Technical University Teachers’ Association of Ghana (TUTAG) has declared an indefinite strike again over the non-payment of their December allowance after they called off a similar strike in October. In a letter notifying the authorities of their strike, TUTAG accused the government of reneging on the agreement they had …

Read More »

Rush-hour car bomb kills dozens in Somali capital

At least 76 people are reported to have been killed by a car bomb during morning rush hour in Somalia’s capital. The blast took place at a checkpoint at a busy intersection in Mogadishu. Dr Mohamed Yusuf, director of Madina hospital, told the AP news agency they had received 73 …

Read More »

GNAT opposes Mahama’s plan to cancel licensure exams

Deputy General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers has kicked against plans by the opposition National Democratic Congress, to cancel the licensure exams if it is voted into power. According to Mr Awotwe Nkansah, they need this accreditation to differentiate themselves from the “fake” teachers that have flooded the …

Read More »

Korle-Bu detains children over bills

The Head of the Children’s Ward at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Madam Joyce Oppon Ayisi has expressed worrying concern at the rate with which challenges facing the health facility has to force children to be detained because their mothers could not afford bills. According to Madam Ayisi, it sometimes takes the …

Read More »

Youtuber jailed for insulting Morocco King

A Moroccan YouTuber, Mohamed Sekkaki, known as “Moul Kaskita”, has been sentenced to four years in prison by a court in the western city of Settat, on Thursday for “insulting the king” in a video broadcast on social networks, his lawyer said. In a separate case, a Moroccan journalist and …

Read More »

Liberia’s President Weah lashes out at former Vice President

President George M. Weah addressing wide range of national issues confronting the country on Friday, December 20, 2019 tongue-lashed former Vice President Joseph N. Boakai pointing out that his time (political relevance)is gone; and inciting people to oust his government is no need because he had 12 years and messed …

Read More »

Islamic State in Nigeria ‘beheads Christian hostages’

The Islamic State group has released a video claiming to show the killing of 11 Christians in Nigeria. IS said it was part of its recently declared campaign to “avenge” the October deaths of its leader and spokesman in Syria. No details were given about the victims, who were all …

Read More »

FDA bans 16 tomato paste products

The Food and Drugs Authority has directed the withdrawal of all batches of certain brands of tomato paste from the market which were found to contain the ingredients starch and colour, that were not indicated on the labels. According to the FDA, these ingredients are not permitted in tomato paste …

Read More »

Boko Haram strikes Chibok again, kills 6, abducts two women

The dreaded Boko Haram insurgents on Tuesday night attacked Kwaranglum village in the Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State, killing six persons and abducting two women. According to reports, the insurgents were also said to have injured three other persons in the village located few kilometres from Chibok. Chibok …

Read More »

Nigeria frees former top official accused of graft

Nigeria’s former national defence advisor, who was arrested in 2015 for allegedly stealing $2 billion, has been freed from jail after several court rulings ordering his release, a security official said Wednesday. Sambo Dasuki spent four years in prison despite multiple court orders to Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) …

Read More »

Korle Bu reveals top ten diseases killing Ghanaians

Dr Daniel Asare, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) has advised Ghanaians to be wary of their lifestyles as there has been an upsurge in chronic kidney disease as well as other diseases. Chronic kidney disease, also known as chronic kidney failure, is the …

Read More »

From CFA franc to Eco: evolution of a controversial currency

Changes to the CFA franc used by 14 African states, announced over the weekend by Ivorian president Alassane Ouattara and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, continue to drive debate across the continent. In this article, we share key details about this currency that has been in use for nearly three-quarters …

Read More »

Here’s why Ivory Coast wants to arrest presidential candidate Soro

Ivory Coast’s public prosecutor on Monday issued an arrest warrant for Guillaume Soro, a former rebel leader and candidate in next year’s presidential election, forcing Soro to call off a planned homecoming after months overseas. The move against Soro, who retains the loyalty of many former rebel commanders who now …

Read More »