The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Leonardo Santos Simão, concluded a two-day pre-electoral visit to Ghana.

The objective of this visit was to engage with authorities and other stakeholders on the electoral process to promote peaceful, transparent, credible, and inclusive general elections scheduled for 7 December 2024.

During his visit, Special Representative Simão was received in audience by the President of the Republic, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. He also met with Honorable Minister of National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah; Honorable Minister of the Interior, Henry Quartey; Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa; Members of the Board of the National Peace Council (NPC); representatives of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), the National Media Commission (NMC), the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).              

The Special Representative applauded the constructive role played by Ghana in consolidating peace and security in the sub-region, while stressing the importance of reinforcing a collective approach to address security challenges and urging continued support to the Accra Initiative.  He also commended his interlocutors for their commitment to preserving Ghana’s status as a beacon of democracy in the sub-region and the continent through the organization of peaceful, transparent, credible, and inclusive elections. He called on all stakeholders to continue promoting conducive environment which is vital to the holding of peaceful elections.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel reaffirmed the United Nations’ support to the people of Ghana for peaceful and credible elections.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS).

The Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, James Swan, visited today the South West State, as part of his first round of in-person engagements with Federal Member States’ leaders.

“I am pleased to be back in Baidoa, South West State. I thank President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed ‘Laftagareen’ and his team for warmly welcoming me and my colleagues today,” said Mr. Swan at a joint press conference after concluding meetings with the President and members of his Cabinet.

The meetings focused on a wide range of key topics related to security and state-building in Somalia and the South West State.

“I commend President Abdiaziz’s commitment to advancing state-building as well as to fight Al-Shabaab in the South West State. The United Nations is committed to supporting the government’s efforts to promote peace, stability, and development across Somalia,” noted Mr. Swan.

Among the national priorities discussed were issues related to the constitutional review and plans for elections.

“We acknowledge that President Abdiaziz has played a constructive role in these processes,” said Mr. Swan.

In his remarks, the Acting UN Special Representative also highlighted the effective partnership between the UN in Somalia and the South West State in advancing police development as well as women’s participation in the security system, through collaborative efforts in the Joint Police Programme.

Humanitarian and development concerns

Despite significant resources in agriculture, livestock and fishery, South West State was historically the epicenter of several episodes of severe food shortages. In recent months, climate change and insecurity led to increased food insecurity and prompted larger numbers of people to flee towards urban centers such as Baidoa, looking for livelihood opportunities.

Current statistics show that more than 950,000 people in the Federal Member State’s Bay, Bakool and Lower Shabelle regions experience high levels of acute food insecurity, and almost 370,000 children face global acute malnutrition.

“The UN family and humanitarian partners are also working hand to hand with the South West State to address urgent humanitarian needs of populations,” said Acting UN Special Representative Swan.

UN agencies, funds and programmes present in the South West State provide support to communities and internally displaced people through a wide array of interventions including food assistance, health and education services, and reintegration activities.

Mr. Swan was accompanied by Wafaa Saeed, the Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); René Nijenhuis, the Deputy Head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA); and Felicia Mandy Owusu, the Deputy Representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

“Our presence together here in South West State is a testimony of the steadfast, collective support of the UN system to the government and people of South West State,” he added.

The Acting UN Special Representative thanked President ‘Laftagareen’ and his government for their strong collaboration.

“Let me conclude by reiterating the UN’s commitment to support South West State in its state- and peace-building priorities and in its response to humanitarian needs and building development for its people,” noted Mr. Swan.

The top UN official previously visited Somalia’s Jubaland and Galmudug states.

James Swan was appointed to his current position by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres on 14 May 2024. He previously served as the the UN chief’s Special Representative for Somalia and Head of UNSOM from 2019 to 2022.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM).

In fulfillment of his commitment to fiscal integrity and national financial security, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has announced a voluntary 40% reduction in his salary.

According to the President, the announcement reflects his determination to lead by example in strengthening government accountability and demonstrating solidarity with the people of the nation.

The Liberian Leader said the move is aimed at setting a precedent for responsible governance and nation-building.

In addition to his own salary reduction, the President has pledged to empower the Civil Service Agency (CSA) to ensure that public servants’ salaries are in line with the current state of the nation and that workers receive fair compensation for their contributions to the country.

The Liberian Chief Executive pledged his commitment to financial responsibility and fair compensation for public servants from various sectors of society as a positive step towards fostering a culture of accountability and equity within the government.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of Liberia: Executive Mansion.

In a significant milestone move, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., President of Liberia, on Thursday, July 4, officially launched the Employee Status Regularization Program (ESRP). He at the same time unveiled a team of highly qualified consultants at a special press briefing held at the Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT).

The ESRP, a leading program in the civil service reform effort of the Boakai Administration, aims at enhancing employment and payroll transparency and accountability within the Government.

In his launching remarks, President Boakai emphasized that the program represents a crucial step towards creating a more efficient, transparent, and accountable civil service under the Government’s ARREST Agenda which he noted was rooted in principles of transparency and accountability.

The ESRP involves a comprehensive employee headcount and physical verification exercise to identify and remove ghost names, double dippers, and unqualified individuals from the government’s payroll system. The initiative also seeks to improve the wages of legitimate civil servants and create opportunities for qualified professionals to deliver efficient and effective services.

During the press briefing, President Boakai highlighted the ESRP’s progress, pointing out that it has already covered 26 out of the 103 government Spending Entities.

The initiative has identified numerous discrepancies in the government’s payroll system, including ghost names, double dippers, unqualified and inefficient employees, duplicate names, and National Identification Numbers (NIN) on the payroll, amounting to significant financial losses for the government.

The President stressed that addressing these discrepancies is essential to ensuring the accuracy and transparency of the payroll system, minimizing waste and abuse of government resources, and effectively utilizing public resources.

The ESRP is set to achieve three key deliverables over the course of three months, from July to September 2024, including an updated and accurate payroll system free of ghost names and incomplete Personnel Action Notices, a streamlined process for ongoing payroll data management and verification, and a depoliticized, professional workforce maintaining payroll integrity.

In addition to the ESRP, President Boakai announced the recruitment of 97 highly qualified professionals and experts through a rigorous vetting process consistent with the National Consultancy Policy Guidelines, which was launched by President Boakai earlier this year.

These consultants, including legal, human resource, and management experts, have been brought on board to support the Government’s initiatives and contribute to bridging the human resource and institutional capacity gaps in the country.

The President expressed his gratitude to the Civil Service Agency for spearheading the ESRP and the recruitment of the consultants, emphasizing the significance of these initiatives in bringing integrity to the national payroll system, saving the Government millions and improving the country’s workforce.

The launch of the Employee Status Regularization Program and the recruitment of highly qualified consultants reflect the Government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and the efficient management of public resources, marking a pivotal moment in Liberia’s journey toward a more productive and effective civil service.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of Liberia: Executive Mansion.