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Category: COVER

  • The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Central Banks adopt Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) for intra-regional trade transactions

    The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Central Banks adopt Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) for intra-regional trade transactions

    CAIRO, Egypt, October 26, 2023/ — The Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), a groundbreaking initiative developed by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) to revolutionize cross-border payments and boost intra-African trade, celebrates a significant milestone as it receives a historic endorsement from the Governors of the Central Banks in the Caribbean region. All eleven Central Banks have unanimously adopted PAPSS as the preferred system for processing the settlement of intra-regional trade transactions.

    The Governors have indicated their recognition of Afreximbank’s experience and skill in using PAPSS to streamline cross-borders financial transactions throughout Africa. Consequently, Afreximbank will provide valuable guidance and support throughout the entire implementation process of PAPSS in the Caribbean region.

    Operational in the six countries of the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) – and with transactions initiated daily by traders, SMEs and individuals – PAPSS is gaining traction on the African continent as a transformative solution enhancing the operational efficiency of cross-border payments, while promoting economic integration and trade facilitation. Indeed, more African Central Banks stand poised to join the network, and recently five major African multinational commercial banking groups present in almost 40 countries have decided to implement the system in all their subsidiaries across Africa. With the inclusion of the CARICOM region, the system’s reach expands beyond the African continent, and its status as a global payment and settlement platform is solidified.

    In adopting PAPSS, the Central Banks in the Caribbean region have recognized its immense potential for unlocking new opportunities for trade growth and cooperation within their respective jurisdictions. By streamlining and expediting the settlement process, PAPSS will eliminate the complexities and inefficiencies that often hinder intra-regional trade, promoting monetary stability and economic development across the Caribbean.

    Professor Benedict Oramah, President, and Chairman of Afreximbank, commented: “In keeping with the bank’s Diaspora Strategy and the African Union’s designation of the African Diaspora as Africa’s sixth region, the Caricom Central Banks’ endorsement of PAPSS vindicates Afreximbank’s efforts to promote and enhance trade between Africa and the Caribbean. With this historic decision, we have moved closer than ever before to achieving economic parity between Africa and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).”

    Also commenting on this collaboration, Dr. Kevin Greenidge, Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados, said: “The Caribbean region looks forward to working closely with Afreximbank to further explore and implement the PAPSS model for intraregional trade transactions. This joint endeavor has the potential to elevate economic cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean to new heights, fostering lasting partnerships and mutual benefits for our respective regions.”

    Mr Mike Ogbalu III, Chief Executive Officer of PAPSS, expressed his enthusiasm over this endorsement, emphasizing the importance of such collaboration in fostering closer ties and enhancing trade relationships across continents. He stated: “This development showcases the adaptability and scalability of PAPSS, and its role as a catalyst for economic growth and prosperity in the African market and beyond. The adoption of PAPSS by the CARICOM Central Banks paves the way for further engagement between Africa and the Caribbean, stimulating trade diversification, economic resilience, and sustainable development for all participating countries. As PAPSS continues to expand its reach and impact, it reaffirms its commitment to promoting financial inclusion, reducing trade barriers, and enhancing cross-border trade across the globe.”

    The Caribbean Central Banks and Afreximbank have decided to start a pilot project to guarantee the seamless deployment of the PAPSS system and its efficacy in the Caribbean region. The goal of this pilot project is to identify any problems with the system before it is fully implemented. An official commercial launch of the system in the Caribbean region is expected to occur in Q4 2024.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

     

  • About the Unending Israeli-Palestinian Problem

    About the Unending Israeli-Palestinian Problem

    ……….As Israel Slams UN Chief Scribe

    Mohammed A. Abu

    The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has condemned in strongest terms the attack against the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres by Israel as “unethical, illegal and an act of political blackmail” in view of the fact that, Israel is  the occupying force.

    The OIC in an official statement said, it considered the Secretary-General’s speech at the Security Council to be in line with his duties and responsibilities derived from international law, international humanitarian law, as well as from the charter and resolutions of the United Nations.

    The OIC also expressed its profound respect to the Secretary-General for the role of the United Nations agencies and their tireless efforts at all levels to stop the war crimes being perpetrated by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people, their land, and holy sites.

    What Guterres Said

    At a Security Council meeting, Guterres called for a humanitarian ceasefire on Tuesday amid the deepening crisis in Gaza, and told the Security Council that “clear violations of international humanitarian law” are being witnessed.

    He called Hamas’ October 7 murder and kidnap rampage “appalling,” and said “nothing can justify the deliberate killing, injuring and kidnapping of civilians, or the launching of rockets against civilian targets.”

    “It is important to also recognize the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum,” Guterres said. “The Palestinian people have been subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation. They have seen their land steadily devoured by settlements and plagued by violence; their economy stifled; their people displaced and their homes demolished.”

    “But the grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the appalling attacks by Hamas. And those appalling attacks cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. Excellencies, even war has rules,” he added.

    Israeli Response

    The UN Chief Scribe’s condemnation of Hamas in no mean terms while also alluding to the fact that attack did not happen in vacuum angered Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, who the CNN reports,was in the chamber as Guterres spoke. “In what world do you live?” said Cohen. “Definitely, this is not our world.”

    Writing on social media later, Cohen said that “after the October 7th massacre, there is no place for a balanced approach. Hamas must be erased off the face of the planet!”

    Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, called on Guterres to resign, saying he had “expressed an understanding for terrorism and murder.”

    Then, on Wednesday, Erdan said his country will block visas for United Nations officials. It had already rejected an application by the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, Erdan told the Israeli Army Radio channel.

    “It’s time we teach them a lesson,” added Erdan.

    Guterres Sets the Record Straight

    In an effort to “set the record straight,” Guterres said Wednesday he was “shocked by misinterpretations by some of my statement yesterday in the Security Council – as if I was was justifying acts of terror by Hamas.”

    “This is false. It was the opposite,” he told reporters, restating his condemnation of the October 7 attacks.

    Historical Origin of the Israeli-Palestinian Problem

    A UN document,”Origins and Evolution of the Palestine Problem: 1917-1947 (Part I)”, notes that, the question of Palestine was brought before it ,shortly after the end of the Second World War.

    “The origins of the Palestine problem as an international issue, however, lie in events occurring towards the end of the First World War. These events led to a League of Nations decision to place Palestine under the administration of Great Britain as the Mandatory Power under the Mandates System adopted by the League.

    “In principle, the Mandate was meant to be in the nature of a transitory phase until Palestine attained the status of a fully independent nation, a status provisionally recognized in the League’s Covenant, but in fact the Mandate’s historical evolution did not result in the emergence of Palestine as an independent nation.

    “The decision on the Mandate did not take into account the wishes of the people of Palestine, despite the Covenant’s requirements that “the wishes of these communities must be a principal consideration in the selection of the Mandatory”.

    “This assumed special significance because, almost five years before receiving the mandate from the League of Nations, the British Government had given commitments to the Zionist Organization regarding the establishment of a Jewish national home in Palestine, for which Zionist leaders had pressed a claim of “historical connection” since their ancestors had lived in Palestine two thousand years earlier before dispersing in the “Diaspora”.

    The Balfour Declaration

    These undertakings to the Zionist Organization were made known in a declaration issued by the British Foreign Secretary, Sir Arthur James Balfour, (whose name it has borne since):

    “Foreign Office,
    2 November 1917

    “Dear Lord Rothschild,

    I have much pleasure in conveying to you on behalf of His Majesty’s Government the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations, which has been submitted to and approved by the Cabinet:

    ‘His Majesty’s Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.’

    I should be grateful if you would bring this declaration to the knowledge of the Zionist Federation.
    Yours sincerely,
    Arthur James Balfour”.

    “The pivotal role of the Balfour Declaration in virtually every phase of the Palestinian issue cannot be exaggerated. The Declaration, which determined the direction of subsequent developments in Palestine, was incorporated in the Mandate. Its implementation brought Arab opposition and revolt.

    ” It caused unending difficulties for the Mandatory in the last stages pitting British, Jews and Arabs against each other. It ultimately led to partition and to the problem as it exists today. Any understanding of the Palestine issue, therefore, requires some examination of this Declaration which can be considered the root of the problem of Palestine” the UN report notes.

    The Countless UN Security Council Resolution on Palestine

    The UN’s beef, is also got to do with Israel’s constant disrespect and disregards for numerous Security Council Resolutions on Palestine aimed at bringing lasting peace between the two neighbors  The numerous Security Council Resolutions include but not limited to the following:

    1.UN Security Council Resolution 242(1967) on the establishment of independent dual states of Israel and Palestine to co-exist peacefully but not one state trying to swallow up the other.

    2. Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem-GA Resolution (A/RES/77/247,30-December 2022

    3.The Right of Palestinian People to Self Determination-GA Resolution(A/RES/77/208)-15-Dec-2022

    4.Human rights and international humanitarian law, Legal issues, Occupation
    A/RES/77/247

    5.Israeli Settlements in the OPT, including East Jerusalem, and the Occupied Syrian Golan – GA Resolution(A/RES/77/126)-12-deC-2022

    6.Covenant: Economic Social and Cultural Rights, Economic issues, Energy, Environmental issues, Golan Heights, Human rights and international humanitarian law, Inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, Natural resources, Occupation, Water–A/RES/77/187

    7.  Permanent Sovereignty of the Palestinian People in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab Population in the Occupied Syrian Golan over their Natural Resources – GA Resolution (A/RES/77/187)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Ecobank Day 2023 focused on the acquisition of digital skills by Africa’s children and youth

    Ecobank Day 2023 focused on the acquisition of digital skills by Africa’s children and youth

    LOMÉ, Togo, October 24, 2023/ — The Ecobank Group (http://www.Ecobank.com), the leading pan-African banking group, celebrated the 10th anniversary of Ecobank Day, its flagship social impact event, last Saturday, October 21, 2023. To mark the occasion, Ecobank launched a three-year ‘Transforming Africa Through Education’ campaign, which it kicked-off with a focus on digital education and equipping children and youth with the digital skills they need for the jobs of tomorrow.

    Jeremy Awori, Chief Executive Officer of Ecobank Group, said: “Ecobank Day reflects the giving spirit of all 14,000 Ecobankers across the Group. For 10 years, it has given us an opportunity to manifest our commitment to making a positive impact in the communities we serve. This year, we focus on digital education, which is critical for Africa to leapfrog and accelerate its development.

    For several years, Ecobank has embarked on a journey of digitalization – consistent with our deep belief in the transformative power of digital technology for a more inclusive future in Africa. It is only natural that on this Ecobank Day, we have supported the launch of a series of training programmes and provided the necessary infrastructure to offer basic digital education to youth across Africa.”

    Ahead of the Ecobank Day celebrations, Ecobank Foundation, in partnership with the Global Partnership for Education and UN Women, organised a webinar entitled ‘Igniting Africa’s Digital Future through the Power of Coding’.

    The webinar was well-attended with over a thousand participants, and featured experts and the youth, discussing the importance of ensuring that all African children and youth have access to digital skills, mostly coding and programming, that are essential for jobs of the future and a fulfilled life. You can watch the webinar here (https://apo-opa.info/3Q1PjMs).

    Ecobank’s affiliates across 33 sub-Saharan African countries continue to hold a range of activities to raise awareness and knowledge of the importance of digital skills for Africa’s children and youth. These activities include creating or equipping IT Labs, refurbishing schools, providing youth digital skills training workshops, partnering with schools to improve digital facilities, mentoring initiatives and more.

    Ecobank Day has supported a wide range of causes over the years since 2013. These have included Education for young people in Africa (2013); Malaria prevention and control (2014); Every African child deserves a better future (2015); ICT education in schools and improving maternal health (2016); Safe water management (2017); Orphanages (2018); Cancer (2019); Diabetes (2020); Mental health (2021) and financial literacy and financial inclusion (2022).

    For more information about Ecobank Day, please visit https://apo-opa.info/497yZT1

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated.
    Media Contact:
    Christiane Bossom
    Group Communications
    Ecobank Transnational Incorporated
    Email: groupcorporatecomms@ecobank.com
    Tel: +228 22 21 03 03
    Web: www.Ecobank.com
  • Celebrating Black Innovation: the Global Black Impact Summit (GBIS) 2023 to Connect the Global Healthcare Community

    Celebrating Black Innovation: the Global Black Impact Summit (GBIS) 2023 to Connect the Global Healthcare Community

    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, October 25, 2023/ — The healthcare sector has long stood as a vessel for innovation, driven by relentless efforts to prevent disease, promote health education and wellness while advancing global health security and resilience.
    This industry has been at the forefront of modernization, and in the field, Black entrepreneurs have emerged as trailblazers, bringing innovative solutions to tackling health crises, strengthening systems, and equipping people and communities with the tools they need to thrive.

    The global COVID-19 crisis in 2020 was a testament to the critical role the healthcare system and associated innovation and collaboration play. The crisis represented one of the biggest health-related disasters in the world since the rise of modern medicine, leading to a dramatic loss of human life and presenting challenges to public health, food systems, and the world of work, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

    In this time of unprecedented crisis, the strength of innovation came to the fore, as well as of collaboration and connection. WHO emphasizes that during times such as the pandemic, the world must remain committed to pooling our expertise and experience.
    As such, the Global Black Impact Summit (GBIS) – taking place in Dubai from November 30 to December 1 – is centered around connecting the global Black healthcare community, celebrating the innovators and entrepreneurs who are shaping the industry today.

    Black healthcare innovators have long played an instrumental part in strengthening healthcare systems, unlocking new levels of research and development while contributing significantly to modern medicine and treatment. Across the industry, the Black community’s inventive approaches continue to not only identify but also bridge critical healthcare gaps, fostering inclusivity while transforming challenges into opportunities.

    This underscores the community’s dedication to equitable and increasingly modernized healthcare solutions. From technology-driven telehealth to affordable treatments and education platforms, these entrepreneurs showcase adaptability, creativity, and a profound commitment to improving lives.

    Taking a look at some of the Black healthcare innovators who have made ground breaking discoveries, developed creative tools and solutions while inspiring new levels of research and education, it is clear that the global Black healthcare community has and will continue to be at the forefront of driving transformational change. Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green, for example, is a physicist and cancer researcher whose ground breaking approach to employing laser-activated nanoparticles to target and eliminate cancer cells has changed treatment strategies worldwide.

    In 2016, Green founded the Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation, aiming to improve cancer treatment effectiveness with fewer side effects and make it accessible and affordable for all. On the cardio-side, Daniel Hale Williams made history when, in 1893, he performed the world’s first successful heart operation, suturing a damaged artery while the heart still beat, revolutionizing surgery without modern tools. Dr. Patricia Bath, an ophthalmologist and inventor, developed the Laserphaco Probe for cataract treatment, an invention which has helped restore vision to millions worldwide.

    Additionally, Dr. Cato Laurencin is a surgeon-scientist known for his pioneering work in regenerative engineering. He has made significant contributions to tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, aiming to create solutions for tissue repair and regeneration. Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett is a viral immunologist who played a key role in the development of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Her research focuses on developing vaccines for emerging infectious diseases. These individuals are just a few of the many inspiring and instrumental healthcare stakeholders who have changed the way we look at and approach medicine.

    Going forward, Black innovation is poised to inspire a new era of technology-driven health solutions. GBIS 2023, as a platform featuring innovators and thought-leaders from across the entire global economy, connects both the Black healthcare community while fostering engagement and integration between the healthcare industry and various other facets of the global economy. Specifically, by facilitating networking between healthcare and technology stakeholders, GBIS 2023 aims to foster new opportunities for integrated healthcare solutions.

    The tech industry itself has played a crucial role in modernizing both health systems and medicines. Examples include the fusion of health technology and artificial intelligence which has paved the way for personalized medicine, predictive analytics, and remote patient monitoring. These trends offer opportunities for inventive solutions customized to individual needs. As the world transitions into a tech-based future, GBIS 2023 plays an instrumental part in fostering the innovations of tomorrow.

    Don’t miss this chance to be a part of a global community that supports and unites Black innovators and entrepreneurs in healthcare at GBIS 2023. There is still time to secure your participation and network with some of the best in healthcare, technology, and more. To secure your participation, register now at https://GlobalBlackImpact.com/.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

    SOURCE
    Energy Capital & Power

  • Call for applications – YouthADAPT Challenge 2023: empowering Africa’s female tech innovators to tackle climate change

    Call for applications – YouthADAPT Challenge 2023: empowering Africa’s female tech innovators to tackle climate change

    ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, October 25, 2023/ — The Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (https://apo-opa.info/3s7IvoI), a joint initiative of the African Development Bank (http://www.AfDB.org) and the Global Center on Adaptation, has launched a call for applications for the third edition of the YouthADAPT Challenge, which seeks to support young entrepreneurs driving solutions to tackle climate change.

    The annual YouthADAPT competition invites young entrepreneurs leading micro, small, and medium enterprises in Africa to submit innovative solutions and business ideas that can drive climate change adaptation and resilience across the continent.

    This year’s call focuses on female-owned enterprises pioneering Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as artificial intelligence; big data analytics; virtual reality; robotics; internet of things; quantum computing; additive manufacturing; blockchain, and fifth-generation wireless for climate adaptation.

    With support from the Africa Climate Change Fund (https://ACCF.AfDB.org/), hosted by the Bank, the winners will be awarded $100,000 each, alongside mentorship and coaching to further their climate change adaptation solutions and business ideas. They will also join the YouthADAPT Alumni Network to learn from a dynamic community of youth entrepreneurs throughout Africa.

    To be eligible, applicants must be between the ages of 18 to 35. Their ventures should be youth-led and offer tangible solutions to real-life climate challenges. They must be registered and operational in Africa, with at least two years’ worth of accounts.

    Apply by visiting the YouthADAPT competition portal (https://apo-opa.info/3Q8WLVZ).  The closing date for applications is 5 November 2023 at 17:00 GMT. An information session is scheduled for 23 October 2023 at 11:00 GMT to share details about the YouthADAPT Challenge 2023. This session will cover eligibility criteria, the application process, important deadlines, and the advantages of participation, such as grants, mentorship, and business development services.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

    Contacts:
    African Development Bank
    Joash Ntenga Moitui,
    Communications and Knowledge Management,
    Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program
    E-mail: j.moitui@afdb.org

    Africa Climate Change Fund
    Rita Effah, Coordinator,
    Africa Climate Change Fund
    r.effah@afdb.org

    Global Center on Adaptation
    Alex Gee,
    Head of Communications,
    Global Center on Adaptation
    E-mail: alex.gee@gca.com

    SOURCE
    African Development Bank Group (AfDB)

  • Inspiring and supporting Junior High School Girls

    Inspiring and supporting Junior High School Girls

    Appolonia City, 24 October 2023 – Appolonia City’s dedicated female staff visited Appolonia Kpone Katamanso District Assembly Junior High School for an inspiring interaction with final-year female students. The visit, which commemorated International Day of the Girl Child, aimed to empower and encourage young women to strive for success.

    The team from Appolonia City, led by Claudia Otoo, Head of City Management, also included members of the sales and marketing departments. The Appolonia City women shared their personal stories with the girls, highlighting the struggles and obstacles they faced on their journeys to success. They emphasized the importance of perseverance, determination, and the pursuit of education as a means to overcome life challenges.

    The team presented gifts – which included sanitary pads, math sets for examinations, water and drinks – to support their girls’ education and well-being.

    Isabella Bedu, the girls’ prefect at Appolonia Junior High School, expressed her gratitude on behalf of her fellow girls.

    “We thank Appolonia City for their thoughtful gesture and promise to make the entire city proud,” Isabella said. “It is inspiring to see what we can become when we work hard and focus on our books. We pledge that we, as a team, will strive to ensure that the highest-performing student in next year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination will be a girl from Appolonia Junior High School.”

    Appolonia City is a partnership between Rendeavour, Africa’s largest new city builder, and the chiefs and the people of the Appolonia stool.

    Appolonia City is a mixed-use and mixed-income urban development designed to provide housing for around 100,000 residents and facilities for 30,000 daily visitors.

    The 2,325-acre project encompasses residential, commercial, retail and light industrial developments, as well as social amenities like schools, healthcare and family parks.

    Situated in the growth trajectory of bustling Accra, the location allows residents to commute to the city centre or enjoy a live-work-play environment within Appolonia City itself. On a national scale, Appolonia City is helping to reduce Ghana’s housing deficit and, regionally, the project is an engine of development for the local area.

    Appolonia City has obtained all local and national regulatory approvals, and site infrastructure such as electricity, water, underground drains and tarred roads are ready for Appolonia City’s first occupants.

    Unique in Ghana, Appolonia City has high quality property maintenance and is governed by strict development controls and owners associations, to ensure residents and businesses live in harmony.

    SOURCE

    APPOLONIA CITY NEWS

  • Giving a Graphite touch to Wa’s Emerging Gold Image in Ghana

    Giving a Graphite touch to Wa’s Emerging Gold Image in Ghana

    Story: Mohammed A.Abu

    Over a decade of passion and commitment on the part of  the Australia Securities  Exchange(ASX) listed company ,Castle Minerals Ltd ,is set to give Ghana’s up country’s generally agrarian driven economy, a diversification to  commercial gold and Graphite(one of the”Critical Minerals”) production touch.

    Gold

    The company’s  ambitious Wa Gold Project owned by its local subsidiary,Azumah Resources Ghana Ltd,has since earned for the Upper West region in international investor community circles the accolade, ‘The Emerging North Western  Gold Province”

    The project is located approximately 10km away from the regional capital of Wa. It extends over a total land holding of 3,164km² and comprises three main deposits namely Kunche, Bepkong and Julie along with two satellite deposits Aduane and Collette.

    The open pit gold mining project includes a 1.2 million tonne per year carbon-in-leach (CIL) processing plant for treating oxide and transition ore. It is estimated to produce approximately 100,000oz of gold a year over an initial mine life of seven years.

    Graphite

    In an official announcement  today, Monday, Castle Minerals Managing Director,Stephen Stone notes, “Castle Boosts Kambale Graphite Resource to 22.4Mt Higher Confidence Indicated Resource Increased 55% Solid Platform Established to Underpin Development Ambitions”

    “Graphite concentrate sample successfully produced during Perth test work is now in Germany undergoing evaluation for its use in lithium-ion batteries (“LiBs”), the announcement disclosed.

    The emerging flagship Kambale Graphite Project owned by 100% Ghanaian subsidiary, Kambale Graphite Limited, is located in the country’s Upper West region.

    Castle Managing Director, Stephen Stone commented:

    “We are delighted to deliver for the fast-emerging Kambale Graphite Project a 38% increase in contained graphite and can now boast a Mineral Resource Estimate of 22.4 million tonnes grading 8.6% TGC containing 1.94 million tonnes of graphite. Forty-three percent of the MRE is in the higher confidence Indicated Resource category.

    “The MRE increase provides a very solid platform upon which to advance our development ambitions, especially now that Castle has demonstrated in test work that a fine flake graphite concentrate of commercial specifications can be produced using a conventional flotation process. This is the primary material used in the manufacture of lithium-ion battery anodes.

    “This all comes just as China this week has introduced a surprise ban on natural and synthetic graphite exports to protect its battery and car manufacturing industries.

    “This will immediately intensify the multi-billion-dollar rush by the USA, EU and other non-China EV manufacturing nations to secure other sources of graphite, battery anodes and EV batteries which they are presently almost totally reliant on China for.

    “The accelerating take-up of EVs alone is driving an enormous increase in demand for graphite for use in lithium-ion batteries for EVs, power storage units and other chargeable consumer devices.

    “Each EV contains between 30kg and 60kg of battery grade graphite where every kg of that is derived from at least 3kg of natural flake concentrate.

    “With another 100 million light EVs forecast to be on the road by 2030, it’s no surprise that forecasters are predicting a natural graphite concentrate supply deficit as current and proposed supply is wholly inadequate.

    “Castle continues to fast-track and de-risk its Kambale Graphite Project and has just kicked off a specialist evaluation in Germany of the concentrate to confirm its suitability for the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries.

    “Mining and metallurgical engineering groups will be appointed shortly to assess the technical and commercial merits of establishing on-site a commercial-scale mining and processing facility.

    “With good access to two international ports in Ghana that can service the USA and EU markets, Kambale has a strategic importance as a still uncommitted resource.

    “The Project will also use mainly hydro-generated “green-grid” power. With Ghana recognized as a safe, stable and established mining jurisdiction, this all bodes well for the Project’s future.” Mr. Stone further disclosed.

     

     

     

     

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  • Gbewaa Palace Denies Blasting of Hon Ken Allegation

    Gbewaa Palace Denies Blasting of Hon Ken Allegation

    The office of His Royal Majesty, Ndan Yaa Naa Abukari II, the King of Dagbon State in Ghana’s Northern Region, has vehemently denied ever having blasted Hon Kennedy Agyapong, a New Patriotic Party(NPP) Presidential hopeful according to an official statement issued in Yendi, Friday.

    This was in response to allegations carried by some online media portals to the effect that, the King had taken a swipe at the latter during his recent courtesy call on him at the Royal Gbewaa Palace in Yendi.

    “This is a palpable falsehood and a figment of the author’s imagination.

    “Hon Kennedy Agyapong was accorded high respect and dignity befitting a contender to the high office of President of Ghana during his visit to the Palace.

    “His Majesty and the Royal Court appreciate Honourable Agyapong and could not have made such derogatory remarks to him.

    “His Majesty did not certainly use words or language on Honourable Agyapong, a person with enormous respect for the palace.

    “The Gbewaa Palace therefore condemns this wicked and despicable lies and political propaganda and caution all and sundry to desist from patent distortion of statements and remarks by His Majesty the Yaa Na, especially during the visits of politicians.

    “The Gbewaa Palace is apolitical and wishes Hon Kennedy Agyapong well in his campaigns” the official statement signed on behalf of His Royal Majesty by his secretary, Alhaj Abdul-Rahman Mohammed, concluded.

  • About the Much Publicized Client Eastwood’s ‘Death’

    About the Much Publicized Client Eastwood’s ‘Death’

    Contrary to various  online reports  that Hollywood Cinema Legend Client Eastwood is dead,a fact Check report filed on Wednesday,October 18,at 11.30 GMT by Yahoo Entertainment online’s Izz Scott LaMagdeleine says the internet should be ignored and that there is no truth in it.

    Indeed if there is any Hollywood  cinema/movie  star who over his long career had left  an indelible mark in the minds of millions globally and footprints on the sand of cinematography time,that is,Client Eastwood.

    On the African continent today only the surviving old folks who were his funs during the 1950s and 60s when he was the most popular star in then  cinematography entertainment landscape.

    His most popular movie titled, “The Good,the Bad and the Ugly” comes to mind when mention of him is made.

    Now for how Yahoo Entertainment story fact check could being back smiles on the faces of devastated funs,read on

    Oct. 13, 2023, YouTube channel Military News published  of a video that  “claimed actor and director Clint Eastwood had died.”

    The clip’s title read, “5 Minutes Ago / Clint Eastwood Died on the way to the hospital / Goodbye Clint Eastwood.” The video had been viewed over 117,000 times on Military News’ YouTube channel at the time of this writing. We also found Facebook posts that linked to the video.

    The claim was false.

    The video began:

    With heavy hearts, we regrettably inform the world of the devastating loss of the iconic and beloved figure, Clint Eastwood. It is with a profound sense of grief that we share the news that Mr. Eastwood, a towering presence in our lives, passed away at the age of 93. 

    However, Military News is not a reputable source of news about celebrity deaths. At the time of this writing, the channel had posted death hoax videos about actor Denzel Washington and singer Randy Travis within the previous two days.

    Furthermore, had Eastwood really died, reputable news publications, such as The Associated Press, would have memorialized him with obituaries on their websites. That had not happened at the time of this writing.

    We also found an article from MediaMass about the “news of actor Clint Eastwood’s death.” We’ve previously covered death hoaxes about actor Tim Curry and TV host Steve Harvey that were linked to the website.

    MediaMass describes its articles as satire. A page on its website says, “The website mediamass.net is the medium of our satire to expose with humor, exaggeration and ridicule the contemporary mass production and mass consumption that we observe.”

    We’ve previously fact-checked other death hoaxes about Eastwood, including in 2017 and 2022. We’ve previously fact-checked similar false rumors about the deaths of celebrities, including actor Josh Peck, actor Sam Elliot, and singer Celine Dion.

    Sources:

    “Https://Twitter.Com/Clinteastwoo_?Lang=en.” X (Formerly Twitter), https://twitter.com/clinteastwoo_?lang=en. Accessed 18 Oct. 2023.

    Ibrahim, Nur. “Actor Josh Peck Died?” Snopes, 5 Sept. 2023, https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/actor-josh-peck-died/.

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