International News
Ghana Risks Government Shutdown Amid Budget Impasse
Ghana’s parliament is unlikely to pass a provisional budget ahead of the December 7 general elections, raising concerns of an unprecedented government shutdown in early 2024.
The delay comes as the West African nation prepares to elect a successor to President Nana Akufo-Addo, whose two-term mandate ends in January.
Historically, a provisional budget is passed in November during election years to ensure the government operates smoothly until the incoming administration takes office.
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However, political gridlock and a legal battle over parliamentary majority have stalled progress this year.
“We risk a government shutdown or, at best, lean government spending from January,” said Seth Terkper, Ghana’s finance minister from 2013 to 2017, in an interview.
He warned that without a budget, the government might have to slash interest payments and funding for the transition process.
Parliament has been on indefinite break since October 23 due to a dispute over which of the two main political parties holds the majority of seats.
The Supreme Court ruled on November 12 that Speaker Alban Bagbin’s earlier declaration of the majority was unconstitutional.
Despite this, Bagbin has refused calls to reconvene parliament, arguing that it would disrupt the election campaigns.
“This situation is unprecedented,” said Patrick Yaw Boamah, chairman of parliament’s finance committee.
The Finance Ministry set a November 15 deadline for presenting the provisional budget, but no progress has been made.
With only weeks left before the end of the year, experts warn that Ghana’s economy, already under strain, could face severe disruptions if the impasse continues.
Ghana, the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, has not faced a budget failure in over three decades.
A government shutdown could disrupt essential services, including salary payments for public sector workers and interest obligations.
Labour unions are particularly concerned about the potential fallout.
“It’s a big problem,” said Joshua Ansah, head of the Trades Union Congress. “We hope they resolve it before January so it doesn’t affect salaries.”
In a significant political development, John Dramani Mahama was officially sworn in as Ghana’s President today, January 7, succeeding Nana Akufo-Addo.
The 65-year-old leader begins his second tenure in the role, having previously served as president from July 2012 to January 2017.
During the inauguration ceremony, Mahama made an unexpected slip, mistakenly referring to Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the “President of Ghana.”
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The statement, made in front of a global audience, quickly went viral.
This marks Mahama’s second time at the helm.
He initially assumed office in July 2012, following the passing of then-President John Evans Atta Mills. After completing Mills’ term, Mahama won the 2012 presidential election, serving a full term before stepping down in 2017.
Today’s inauguration was attended by dignitaries and citizens eager to witness Mahama’s return to power.
Despite the momentary gaffe, the ceremony was hailed as a testament to Ghana’s vibrant democracy.
See video below:
A powerful earthquake struck China’s remote Tibet region on Tuesday, leaving at least 53 people dead and 62 injured, state media reported.
The quake, which hit Dingri County near the Nepal border, also caused significant damage, with over 1,000 buildings affected and many completely destroyed.
The tremor, measured at 6.8 magnitude by the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) and 7.1 by the US Geological Survey, occurred at 9:05 a.m. local time (0105 GMT).
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It is the strongest earthquake recorded within a 200-kilometer radius in the past five years, according to CENC.
Videos aired by China’s state broadcaster CCTV showed homes reduced to rubble and streets filled with debris.
Surveillance footage from a local store captured the moment of impact, with shelves violently shaking and items like toys crashing to the floor.
In the town of Lhatse, visuals verified by AFP revealed rubble scattered outside shops and eateries.
Rescue workers are seen navigating through the devastation, distributing thick blankets to residents struggling with subzero temperatures.
The China Meteorological Administration warned that temperatures in Dingri could drop to minus 18 degrees Celsius (0 degrees Fahrenheit) by nightfall.
“Dingri County and its surrounding areas experienced very strong tremors, and many buildings near the epicenter have collapsed,” state broadcaster CCTV reported.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for “full-scale search and rescue efforts, minimizing casualties to the greatest extent possible, properly resettling affected residents, and ensuring their safety and warmth through the winter.”
Disaster relief, including tents, quilts, and other essential supplies, has been dispatched to the affected areas.
Local authorities are continuing efforts to assess the full impact of the quake, Xinhua News Agency reported.
The earthquake’s tremors extended into neighboring Nepal and parts of India.
Residents of Kathmandu and areas near Everest in Nepal’s high mountains reported strong shaking.
“It shook quite strongly here, everyone is awake,” said Jagat Prasad Bhusal, a government official in Nepal’s Namche region. However, no casualties or damage were reported in Nepal, according to Nepali Home Ministry spokesman Rishi Ram Tiwari.
Some tremors were also felt in India’s Bihar state, though no injuries were reported.
The Himalayan region, situated on a major tectonic fault line where the Indian and Eurasian plates collide, is highly prone to earthquakes.
This latest quake follows other recent seismic disasters, including a 7.8-magnitude quake in Nepal in 2015 that killed nearly 9,000 people and injured more than 22,000.
In China, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake along the China-Kyrgyzstan border in January 2024 killed three people, while a December 2023 quake in Gansu Province claimed 148 lives and displaced thousands.
The extreme weather conditions in Tibet are complicating rescue and relief efforts.
Temperatures in the affected region are already below freezing, and survivors face further hardships as authorities work to restore order and safety.
Xinhua reported that “local authorities are reaching out to various townships in the county to assess the impact of the quake.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his decision to resign, bringing an end to his nearly 10-year tenure as leader of the country.
Speaking to reporters in Ottawa on Monday, Trudeau said he will step down as soon as the ruling Liberal Party selects a new leader.
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“I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister,” Trudeau declared, signaling the conclusion of a political career that began with his election as prime minister in 2015.
The announcement follows months of internal pressure and a political crisis that saw top Liberal Party members urging Trudeau to step aside.
More to follow……….
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