News & Events
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Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio to launch €34m solar minigrid project
Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio is set to launch a groundbreaking renewable energy initiative, the Salone Off-grid Renewable Energy Acceleration Initiative (SOGREA). This €34 million (830 million New Leones) project represents a significant step toward the country’s sustainable development goals and aims to provide clean, reliable electricity to rural communities.
By 2027, SOGREA aims to install minigrids with 5.2 megawatts of peak solar generation capacity, benefiting 25,000 households and 2,800 businesses across approximately 60 communities. During a high-level meeting at State House, EU Ambassador Jacek Jankowski and Dr. Kandeh Yumkella briefed President Bio on the project’s progress. The EU is contributing €34 million, including €22 million in direct investment support and technical assistance, while the Sierra Leone government has pledged 50 million Leones.
The initiative employs a catalytic investment model that combines public and private sector support, with implementation agreements already signed. President Bio emphasised his government’s commitment to establishing necessary legal frameworks through Parliament and the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (SLEWRC).
SOGREA is expected to create jobs, boost local economies, and advance Sierra Leone’s “Big Five Game Changers” initiative, particularly in technology and innovation. This project positions Sierra Leone as an emerging leader in green investment and renewable energy development in West Africa, marking a crucial step toward universal electricity access and climate resilience.
Read the original article here: https://www.africa-newsroom.com/press/sierra-leones-president-julius-maada-bio-to-launch-830-million-new-leones-euro34-million-solar-minigrid-project-powering-sierra-leones-green-future?lang=en
Keynote address by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, at her Welcome Reception
The new Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, delivered her inaugural keynote address at Lancaster House during the Welcome Reception, outlining an ambitious vision for the organisation’s future. The event, sponsored by Lady Dentaa and GUBA, brought together key stakeholders and representatives from across the Commonwealth’s 56 member nations.
In her comprehensive address, Botchwey highlighted several critical challenges facing the Commonwealth, including climate change, rising inequality, mounting debt burdens, and threats to democratic processes. She emphasised that the Commonwealth, representing a third of the world’s population across five continents, is uniquely positioned to address these global challenges.
The Secretary-General acknowledged the contributions of her predecessors since 1965 and expressed gratitude to the UK government for its support. She concluded by calling for unity and purposeful action, stating that the Commonwealth must lead “when others hesitate” and build “when others retreat,” emphasising the organisation’s role in creating a more prosperous and sustainable future for all member states.
Read the original article here: https://thecommonwealth.org/speech/keynote-address-commonwealth-secretary-general-hon-shirley-ayorkor-botchwey-her-welcome
Ukraine and Ghana agreed to develop cooperation in cybersecurity, digitalization, and information technologies
Ukraine and Ghana have taken significant steps to strengthen their digital cooperation during a recent online meeting between Anton Demokhin, Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister and Chief Digital Transformation Officer, and Samuel Nartey George, Ghana’s Minister for Communication, Information Technology, and Innovation. The discussion centred on expanding bilateral collaboration in digitalisation, innovation, cybersecurity, and cybercrime prevention, with both nations agreeing to develop specific cooperation initiatives through their respective government agencies.
During the meeting, Demokhin showcased Ukraine’s achievements in digital transformation and shared valuable insights about the country’s cybersecurity capabilities. He also introduced the Code-UA platform, designed to facilitate connections between Ukrainian IT companies and international partners. Minister George expressed Ghana’s keen interest in learning from Ukraine’s experience, particularly in implementing cybersecurity measures, applying AI in public administration, establishing Chief Digital Transformation Officers, and enhancing digital literacy among the population.
The officials reached an agreement to organise a joint Ukrainian-Ghanaian IT Forum, aiming to foster business relationships between the two countries’ tech sectors. Ukraine commended Ghana’s Digital Agenda as a strategic step toward integration with the global digital economy.
Read the original article here: https://www.africa-newsroom.com/press/ukraine-and-ghana-agreed-to-develop-cooperation-in-cybersecurity-digitalization-and-information-technologies?lang=en
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Womenpreneurship
Please join the Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce on International Women’s Day 2022 fireside chat featuring Dr Rufaro Mucheka, Jersey Finance’s Business Development for Africa, for an insightful and topical discussion on the progress in and challenges for womenpreneurship in Southern Africa.
The fireside chat takes place online via Zoom on 8 March 2022 (Thursday) at 5 pm Hong Kong time/ 9 am London time/ 11 am South Africa Time.
Virtual Social Networking and Quiz
Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce Virtual Social Networking & Quiz Event with a Quiz on the Commonwealth Games!
Recording of James Fok Fireside Chat 25 January 2022
The book presents a groundbreaking exploration of US-China relations through the lens of international finance, tracing the development of the US and Chinese financial markets, as well as the current US dollar-based global monetary system.