He was appointed at the First Ordinary Session of the Parliament ongoing in Dakar, Senegal.

John Azumah, a graduate of the University of Cape Coast, had previously worked at the Parliament of Ghana, and has over fifteen (15) years of  experience at the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja.

His previous roles at the ECOWAS Parliament include the Director of Administration and Finance.

The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Rt. Hon. Mustapha Cisulo, congratulated Mr. Azumah on his new appointment, and extolled his dedication and hard work with the regional legislature.

Mr. Azumah is a Bachelor of Commerce holder from the University of Cape Coast, and he is in the process of becoming a chartered accountant.

He also holds an MBA in economic management and governance from Birmingham University, UK.

He is expected to serve in his new position for a period of four years. The position was previously held by Dr. Nelson Magbagbeola of Nigeria.

About the ECOWAS Parliament

The ECOWAS Parliament, also known as the Community Parliament, is a forum for dialogue, consultation and consensus for representatives of the people of West Africa with the aim of promoting integration.

It was established under Article 6 and 13 of the ECOWAS Revised Treaty of 1993.

The Protocol relating to the Parliament was signed in Abuja on 6^th August, 1994, and entered into force in 14^th March, 2002.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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His attendance is upon the invitation of that country’s president, Macky Sall, and French President, Emmanuel Macron.

[contextly_sidebar id=”EwF27FIeMId8FnsrF9rMLIgukqBEO7Yv”]A statement issued by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, said the President, who left Accra on Friday, February 2, 2018, will return later in the day.

President Akufo-Addo was accompanied by the Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, and Education Minister, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, among other officials at the Flagstaff House and Education as well as Foreign Affairs ministries.

“The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Friday, 2^nd February, 2018, left the country, upon the invitation of their Excellencies, M. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal, and M. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, to lead the Ghanaian delegation to the 3^rd International Conference on the “Replenishment of the Funds of the Global Partnership for Education”.

Following the return of the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for medical leave on Thursday night after 12 days in London, he will act in the stead of the President while he is away in accordance with Article 60(8) of the Constitution, act in his stead.

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By: Joans Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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“No to Freemasonry and Homosexuality”, an association of around 30 religious groups in Senegal, accuse the singer of using masonic symbolism and being a member of the so-called Illuminati, a conspiracy myth which suggests that a shadowy group of global elites are working to establish a New World Order.

Such claims about Rihanna’s beliefs have been roundly dismissed as outlandish by her collaborators in the past.

Rihanna will be visiting the West African nation in her role as an ambassador for the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).

The organisation aims to help fund the teaching of millions of children and young people in developing countries.

Jeune Afrique quotes Senegal’s interior minister as saying he will ensure the safety of all conference attendees.

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Source: BBC

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He, however, cautioned that achieving greatness will require more than mere football talent, which most agree Senegal have in good measure.

On his way out of the venue of the 2017 AITEO CAF Awards he spared a second to chip in, that a strong mindset is what will set Senegal apart and well on their path to greatness.

The former Liverpool forward,at age 21 made his mark on the world stage during Senegal’s fairytale journey to the quarterfinals of the Japan-Korea 2002 World Cup and was rightly rewarded with a place in the All-Star team of the competition.

“We have a good team and have nothing to worry about.

“We want to write the newest story of world football and I think my team is ready for that challenge.

“Football is crazy and it is not about what I will say or what Drogba or Eto’o say.

“It is about how many characters these guys will have.

“To make it to that point,it is not about talent but character.

“I hope they will show that character because at the highest level if you don’t show it you won’t get far, he revealed to Kwese Sports.

A Group H showdown with Japan, Colombia and Poland await Senegal with their opening match coming against the Polish.

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By: Benjamin Nketsia/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The 24-hour strike, which began at midnight GMT on Thursday, is about working conditions. Hundreds of passengers have been affected.

Several flights have been cancelled, others were re-routed to The Gambia.

The Blaise Diagne International Airport cost more than $600m (£447m) to build, replacing an ageing facility.

Trade union leader Paul Francois Gomis told the BBC that staff wanted compensation for long travel times to the airport, which is 50km (31 miles) from the capital.

He also said that the 60 air traffic controllers had not been trained in the use of new equipment in the new control tower.

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Source: BBC

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Nigeria, who were crowned champions of Africa in 2013, will face Argentina for the fifth time in the group stages of the World Cup

They are joined in Group D by Iceland and Croatia.

Morocco who beat Ivory Coast to make it to the tournament will face a huge task of making it out of their group after they were drawn against European Champions Portugal and Spain who have won the World Cup in 2010.

Senegal were grouped with Poland, Colombia and Japan while Tunisia will be hoping they can make it out of a difficult group with Belgium, Panama and England.

Defending champions Germany will be expected to qualify from a group which has Sweden, Mexico and South Korea

Hosts Russia play Saudi Arabia in the World Cup’s opening game in Moscow on 14 June (16:00 BST).

The 2018 tournament takes place across Russia between 14 June and 15 July.

World Cup groups in full

• Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay
• Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran
• Group C: France, Australia, Peru, Denmark
• Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria
• Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia
• Group F: Germany, Sweden, Mexico, South Korea
• Group G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England
• Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Diafra Sakho scored the opener for the visitors in Polokwane, before a somewhat fortuitous Thamsanqa Mkhize own goal sealed the three points for the Teranga Lions. The visitors are now five points ahead of nearest Group D challengers Burkina Faso with one game remaining.

Senegal stunned the world by beating World Cup holders France in their first ever game at the global finals in 2002, and if they are to produce performances to match that at Russia 2018, it is likely that Liverpool’s Sadio Mane will be the catalyst.

Unsurprisingly, Mane was integral to the victory that booked their World Cup return, with a wonderfully incisive through ball teeing up Sakho for the opener, while he was involved in the tangle of bodies that led to the second.

2010 World Cup hosts South Africa played their part – and even dominated possession for spells – in a lively match, with Lebogang Manyama hitting the crossbar, but the second goal just before half-time knocked the wind out of their sails.

Head coach Aliou Cisse was the Senegalese captain during their 2002 debut, which saw them follow up that remarkable opening win against France to reach the quarter-finals.

The former midfielder will be hoping he can inspire them to achieve similarly superlative heights next year in Russia.
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Source: FIFA

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World governing body Fifa ordered the replay after the referee for the original game, Joseph Lamptey, was banned for manipulating the match.

The South African Football Association (Safa) had been considering an appeal but now says it agrees with Fifa.

However it said it would appeal should the referee’s ban be overturned.

South Africa beat Senegal 2-1 in the original tie last year.

On Tuesday Safa said it “has decided on ethical and moral grounds that if this match was manipulated, we should replay it”.

It later added: “We have however, noted that the official at the centre of all this controversy has appealed his case to the courts of law.

“If the courts overturn the decision, everything becomes null and void and Safa will reserve its right to challenge the decision of Fifa to replay the match.

“Safa’s zero tolerance on corrupt activities within football are well documented and it is in this light that we decided to comply with the Fifa directive.”

Safa had been considering an appeal as it had not been consulted by investigators.

It means that South Africa are now bottom of Group D with a single point from three matches and now trail the third-placed Senegalese by four points.

Burkina Faso top the group with six points, just ahead of island nation Cape Verde on goal difference, with only the group winners qualifying for the World Cup in Russia.

Fifa will decide on 14 September on the exact date for the replay, which will take place in the international window in November – one month before the 2018 World Cup draw.

Neither South Africa nor Senegal have been accused of any wrongdoing.

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Source: BBC

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It happened at Demba Diop stadium in the capital, Dakar, at the end of the League Cup final between Stade de Mbour and Union Sportive Ouakam.

Fighting started between rival fans and police responded by using tear gas, which led to panic, a stampede, and the wall collapse.

Some fans were throwing projectiles including stones at others.
Pictures circulating online appear to show people scrambling over a low wall amid clouds of gas.
Local news agency APS reported that ambulances and firefighters were at the scene.

With the score 1-1 after 90 minutes, Mbour scored in the first period of extra time to win 2-1, and violence broke out at the final whistle.

Cheikh Maba Diop, whose friend died in the incident and who helped move people out of the stadium, told AFP news agency: “All of a sudden when the wall fell… we knew exactly that some of our own had lost their lives because the wall fell directly on to people.”

A spokesman for the country’s President Macky Sall said that campaigning for upcoming elections would be suspended on Sunday as a mark of respect, and that there should be “punishments serving as a warning”.
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Source: BBC

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The Fifa Under-20 World Cup has reached the knock-out phase in South Korea with Senegal very much in contention.

The West Africans, who finished second in Group F behind the United States but ahead of Saudi Arabia on goal difference, will play Mexico in Incheon on Thursday.

However, the young Lions of Teranga will face the Mexicans without two key players who are suspended for the round of 16.

Centre-back Cavin Diagne was sent off right at the end of their final group match against Ecuador after picking up a second yellow card.

Fellow defender Souleymae Aw was cautioned for a second time in the tournament and is also banned for one game.

But Ibrahima N’Diaye, who sat out the Ecuador fixture after being booked in his side’s first two games, will be back.

His absence was felt by coach Joseph Koto, who played for the senior national team between 1980 and 1986 and coached the side in 2012.

“We could have won and topped this group to face [one of the third placed teams], but this is what we’ve got. We’ll take it step by step.,” goalkeeper Mouhamed Mbaye, told Fifa.com

He added: “Our next game is against Mexico and we’re ready to play!”

Senegal, making their second appearance in Fifa’s flagship youth event, were semi-finalists on their debut in New Zealand two years ago.

Click here for U-20 World Cup results from the Fifa website

Round of 16 Fixtures:

Tuesday 30 May

Venezuela v Japan

Korea v Portugal

Wednesday 31 May

Uruguay v Saudi Arabia

England v Costa Rica

Zambia v Germany

Thursday 1 June

Mexico v Senegal

France v Italy

USA v New Zealand

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Source: BBC

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