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allAfrica.com: Africa Isn\’t Rising, Say Ordinary Africans (Page 1 of 2)

October 31, 2013

Peter Singhatey Articles on Africa Africa, Development, Gambia, People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

allAfrica.com: Africa Isn\’t Rising, Say Ordinary Africans (Page 1 of 2)

via allAfrica.com: Africa Isn\’t Rising, Say Ordinary Africans (Page 1 of 2).

A pioneering new survey of public opinion in 34 countries across the continent suggests that the relatively high average growth in gross domestic product (GDP) reported in recent years is not reflected in the experiences of most citizens.

An average of one in five Africans still often goes without food, clean water or medical care. Only one in three think economic conditions in their country are good. Fifty-three percent say they are “fairly bad” or “very bad”.

The survey suggests that either the benefits of growth are being disproportionately channelled to a wealthy elite or that official statistics are overstating average growth rates (or possibly a combination of both)…

Rwanda rolls out free WiFi for all

October 22, 2013

Peter Singhatey Articles on Africa Africa, Development, Education, Peace & Security, peter singhateh, Rwanda Leave a comment

Rwanda rolls out free WiFi for all.

Kigali – It’s a scene any visitor would be surprised to see deep in central Africa: a tech-savvy consumer sitting in a restaurant and surfing a broadband connection with a smartphone, tablet and laptop.

But in a region long associated with war and genocide, Rwanda is busy trying to reinvent itself as a regional high tech hub by rolling out free citywide and eventually nationwide wireless connectivity…

Africa\’s population to \’double\’ by 2050

September 16, 2013

Peter Singhatey Articles on Africa Africa, Development, People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

Africa\’s population to \’double\’ by 2050

via Africa\’s population to \’double\’ by 2050.

Africa’s population will more than double to 2.4 billion within 40 years, thanks in large part to better healthcare, according to a major study.

Sub-Saharan Africa’s population is rising faster than the rest of the world because modern medicine and healthcare on the continent means more babies are surviving birth complications, and fewer adults are dying from preventable diseases. But the number of children being conceived is not dropping, or is doing so very slowly.

”This means that population growth rates would naturally rise if birth rates stay as they are,” said Carl Haub, the co-author of the report by the US-based Population Reference Bureau.

African mothers currently give birth to an average of 5.2 children, rising to 7.6 in Niger, the country with the world’s highest fertility rate, which is close to five times the European average of 1.6 children born to each woman…

Gambian women fleeing female genital mutilation threat – The Point Newspaper, Banjul, The Gambia

September 5, 2013

Peter Singhatey Uncategorized Africa, FGM, Gambia, People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

Gambian women fleeing female genital mutilation threat – The Point Newspaper, Banjul, The Gambia

via Gambian women fleeing female genital mutilation threat – The Point Newspaper, Banjul, The Gambia.

Fear of female genital mutilation (FGM) is grounds for seeking asylum in the UK, but campaigners say that hundreds of women have had such applications rejected. Newsnight’s Sue Lloyd-Roberts spoke to two women from The Gambia whose applications failed, and travelled to their home country to test their cases on the ground….

Europe\’s electronic waste has become Africa\’s burden – The Hindu

August 21, 2013

Peter Singhatey Articles on Africa Africa, Development, Gambia, Mo Ibrahim, peter singhateh Leave a comment

Europe\’s electronic waste has become Africa\’s burden – The Hindu

via Europe\’s electronic waste has become Africa\’s burden – The Hindu.

The disposal of computers and other electronic and electrical goods, e-waste, is a growing global problem. In 2011, the world threw away 41.5m tonnes of electrical equipment, and this is expected to rise to 93.5m tonnes by 2016. This is a concern because dumped electronic consumer goods are, essentially, toxic waste.

In the second-hand markets of Lagos, Nigeria, little consideration is given to whether the item is tested or untested due to an abundance of repairers. But equipment shipped here untested is classed as e-waste, and so is in Lagos illegally. It might have been shipped in a container hidden behind working goods, concealed inside a car, or falsely described as a personal item. In many developing countries, e-waste is not treated to the same standard as in developed countries and there is often poor treatment leading to release of hazardous chemicals that can harm both people and the environment…

Lack of leadership in Africa: Ibrahim – Times LIVE

August 21, 2013

Peter Singhatey Articles on Africa Africa, Development, Education, Gambia, Mo Ibrahim, peter singhateh Leave a comment

Lack of leadership in Africa: Ibrahim – Times LIVE

via Lack of leadership in Africa: Ibrahim – Times LIVE.

Ibrahim was delivering the annual Nelson Mandela Lecture in Pretoria.

“Leadership is not about bossing people around…it is not about securing a seat in the UN Security Council on behalf of Africa, or chairing the African Union,” he said.

“Leadership is true engagement with Africa. You [South Africa] have a role to play.”

Ibrahim said that half of the continent’s population was below the age of 19, and that African youth could become the best in the future in terms of production.

This was because the population of countries such as China and many European countries were ageing. “But to do that, we need good education and training to equip these youngsters for the future. Through that, Africa can become the future factory of the world.”

Mo Farah backs petition for Barclays to keep cash transfers

August 11, 2013

Peter Singhatey Uncategorized Africa, Barclays, Gambia, Mo Farah, peter singhateh Leave a comment

Mo Farah backs petition for Barclays to keep cash transfers

via Mo Farah backs petition for Barclays to keep cash transfers.

LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Somali-born double Olympic champion Mo Farah has backed petitioners calling for Barclays to keep open its cash transfer business, a lifeline for millions of Somalis and others in developing countries who depend on remittances to survive.

London-based Barclays announced in June it would stop offering banking services to some Somali transfer firms because it feared funds might end up in the hands of “terrorists” in the Horn of Africa nation slowly emerging from two decades of conflict…

How African innovation can take on the world – CNN.com

August 11, 2013

Peter Singhatey Uncategorized Africa, Development, Gambia, Peace & Security, peter singhateh Leave a comment

How African innovation can take on the world – CNN.com

via How African innovation can take on the world – CNN.com.

In this period of gloomy economic forecasts, Africa’s rise has become a widely discussed international policy topic. The sweeping optimism about Africa’s economic prospects has been reinforced by 2013 projections that the continent will grow faster than the world average….