Africa Rises But Bwana Is Out Of Step

By Michael Holman, From the Financial Times.com

Africa is on the move: from basket case to a potential bread basket, from dodgy debtor to investor opportunity.

Too bad that Britain risks remaining out of step and out of touch.

Last week’s London summit on Somalia was remarkable for its high turnout and admirable in its good intentions. No one can dispute the damage done by piracy in waters used by international shipping, or the threat posed by extremists who shelter behind a collapsed administration. But safety at sea is dependent on economic recovery on land. And restoring a failed state means tackling poverty.

Ivory Coast Can Learn from the Parliamentry System of Governance

By Mamadou Koulibaly, Ivory Coast

As Côte d’Ivoire is in a unique situation with two presidents of the republic, beyond the short-term analysis of the scourges of the titanic struggle that awaits the country, we can lead the debate on the pathways that could allow the limitation of absolute power that intoxicates leaders to the point of making them forget they only are the servants of their people.

The parliamentary system discovered by the English more than three centuries ago has exported more easily and had more success in poor countries in institutional transition. This is the Westminster model of government found in Great Britain, which has remarkably stood the test of time and latitudes. Countries, with poor, heterogeneous populations, exiting colonization, remote from western culture and knowing political tensions have often had to adopt this model to ensure relative stability and effective progress. This has been the case of India since 1947 and Japan since 1945.

Ghana is the Global Top Reformer in Improving Access to Credit

and still Overall, the Easiest Place To Do Business in West Africa.

Ghana has established Africa’s newest centralized Collateral Registry and by improving credit information and legal rights through granting an operating license to a private credit bureau, the West African country led the world in making it easier for businesses to obtain credit.

This is a finding of Doing Business 2011:  Making a Difference for Entrepreneurs, the eighth in a series of the flagship annual reports published by IFC and the World Bank benchmarking the regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it.  The report presents qualitative indicators on business regulation and the protection of property rights for 183 economies _ from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.  The data are current as of June 2010.

Gender Disparities in African Labor Markets Caused by Jobs Scarcity, Not Discrimination

Investments in education and job creation seen as key to fostering gender equality

Gender inequalities remain a concern in African labor markets despite variations from one country to another, a new book published by the World Bank shows. The book, Gender Disparities in Africa_s Labor Market, reveals that overall there is a 17 percentage-point difference between the labor force participation rate for men (78.3 percent) and women (61 percent).

Government Must Tackle Seriously This Outrageous Interest Rates

By Ben Ofosu-Appiah

“Deposit your money with a commercial bank in Ghana and the interest you earn on it can be as low as 7%. Borrow money from a commercial bank in Ghana and you will be faced with an interest rate of 30% or higher.” This was how a friend recently put it. Why are interest rates in Ghana so outrageously high and the Bank of Ghana and the government not doing anything about it?

UN Official Says Resources, Policies And Leadership Key To Achieving Anti-Poverty Goals

From www.undp.org

Countries can make headway on slashing hunger, poverty and a host of other socio-economic ills over the next five years, the head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said today, stressing three essential elements for progress.

“With sufficient and predictable resources for development, the appropriate policies, and strong leadership and capacity, we do believe that the MDGs and other internationally agreed development goals can be met,” Helen Clark stated, referring to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which world leaders have pledged to achieve by 2015.

BECOMING A RESPONSIBLE, CONFIDENT AND SAFE DRIVER

By Adewale T Akande, www.globaleduven.com – adewale_akande@hotmail.com

Driving is a serious responsibility with physical and mental abilities impacting on the driving activities of a driver. It is more than moving a vehicle and knowing how to use the accelerator, brake pedals and steering. Driving is at best when you have knowledge and required skills to drive competently in accordance with those rules and regulations guiding the public roads. A safe and responsible driver have responsibility which makes him a good citizen. Driving is a learned skill acquired with much practice. It is also more important to drive with due regards for safety and convenience of other road users. Driving entails concentration, calmness, and with consideration and respect for others. And at the same time, a driver should ensure proper and total control of his vehicle at all times. That means a driver must not allow anything to take their attention from the road, therefore good anticipation and concentration will help to prevent these usual incidents becoming accidents on our roads. The safety of others depends on you when you are on the wheel.