Dirk Roux receives funding from the National Research Foundation Nelson Mandela University and South African National Parks. Nancy Job works for the South African National Biodiversity Institute The Institute receives some of its operational funding from the Department of Forestry Nelson Mandela University provides support as an endorsing partner of The Conversation AFRICA View all partners the park is better placed to conserve wetlands for South Africa and plan for the future A wetland is a piece of land that is flooded with salt or fresh water most of the time There are 437 wetlands of different types in the Addo park we conducted field surveys in close collaboration with the park staff We were blown away by the exceptionally diverse landscapes we found These ranged from arid inland steep rocky mountains and low-lying plains to higher altitude grassy ridges to sandy shores We found wetlands that had never before been documented These included “dune-slack” coastal wetlands These are wetlands in low-lying hollows which collect water between coastal dunes Their overall size is ever-changing as the dunes are shifted by winds These wetlands are a window into an underground aquifer of water held within the sand They may well support species unique to these dune fields We discovered springs hidden within forested gorges (known locally as “kloofs”) and depression wetlands (shallow bowl-like ponds that hold water for only a few months in the year) inside areas of thick These were revealed to us only through the care and guidance of the rangers who know the area so intimately Memorable findings include a life-giving spring in a dry river bed and crater-like depression wetlands on the plateaus of a mountainous area Rivers and wetlands (together with estuaries) are the most threatened and least protected ecosystem types in the country They are also poorly documented and small in comparison with wetlands in other countries Making an inventory of wetlands provides information about the type size and number of wetlands across an area This is a first step towards managing and conserving these ecosystems the park contributes to the national knowledge base wetlands are no longer seen as mere wet spots in the landscape but recognised as distinct ecosystems that support their own plant and animal life This means the park is better placed to start to plan and monitor for the best outcomes for these ecosystems and the animals they support The international treaty that protects wetlands (the Ramsar Convention) recognises the importance and critical ecological functions of small wetlands and habitats or refuges for animals and people in times of drought or low rainfall the importance and lifeline that wetlands and springs held for historical settlement in the area was obvious park rangers revealed to us a spring that had been modified and a rock wall built to pond the water for ease of collection the spring had clearly supported the people and livestock that once lived there for many years before the area was declared a national park About 300 biodiversity scientists come up with a national assessment of South Africa’s biodiversity about every six years This assessment shows that wetlands are highly threatened meaning that almost no healthy wetlands remain Wetlands inside national parks are just as threatened as they are outside parks this is partly explained by the fact that the park was extended in the early 2000s using land that had previously been commercially farmed the natural water flow had been diverted into small dams suitable for livestock and crop farming It was difficult for natural wetlands in the area to recover on their own has experienced an ever-increasing elephant population Elephants have a remarkable ability to transform landscapes – and wetlands the movement of elephants is relatively restricted and so more elephants trample through wetlands This raises an interesting trade-off between the conservation of these animals and that of wetlands The new inventory is a baseline document for rivers and wetlands in the park The effects of climate change can be monitored against this baseline in future It puts a lot of pressure on water resources and freshwater ecosystems It could mean that wetlands hold water for a shorter time in the future Wetlands are likely to be affected by climate change with less frequent but more intense rainfall and less water seeps into the ground to regenerate wetlands It will become increasingly important to prevent invasive alien plants from spreading to monitor the water-holding patterns in reference wetlands and to monitor soil erosion and the use of water by animals (Nicholas Cole of SANParks co-authored this article) This article may contain graphic and/or adult content unsuitable for minors and sensitive readers Two lionesses that were recently introduced into the main camp at the Addo National Elephant Park were said to be roaming the game viewing area after their release on Monday South African National Parks said the sisters were relocated from the !Khamab Kalahari Reserve on the south-eastern edge of the Kalahari in December and have been acclimatising in one of the bomas JP Louw said the lionesses “are a valuable addition” to the lion population as they bring with them strong healthy genes that add to the genetic variety “There are five other lions in the game viewing area and a further three in what is known as the Nyathi section “The two lionesses are both collared for ease of monitoring so that rangers and researchers can observe what habitats they use their proximity to the males and other predators and which species they prey on,” Louw said The collars also enable management to reach a fine balance of managing the lion population carefully in relation to the size of Addo National Elephant Park “Their management forms part of a larger initiative to mimic natural processes that regulate lion social behaviour and population growth which includes swapping individuals between parks to ensure constant introduction of new genes,” said Louw an exclusive podcast on the life of Vicki Terblanche Dive into the expansive world of motoring with Naresh Maharaj Join Mark Marshall as he shares his extraordinary encounters with everything from bees to reptiles i BLACK STARS head coach Otto Addo has visited injured Ghanaian winger Ernest Nuamah in France as the player continues his recovery from a knee injury The national team boss spent time with Nuamah to offer encouragement and monitor the progress of his rehabilitation The young forward recently underwent successful surgery after injuring his left knee during a Ligue 1 match against Lille Nuamah remains sidelined and is expected to continue his rehabilitation in the coming weeks as he works towards full recovery The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has also pledged its full support assuring the player of any assistance needed during his time on the sidelines The visit underscores the technical team’s commitment to player welfare and morale as Ghana prepares for upcoming international assignments Following the successful implementation at Kruger National Park and Garden Route Parks the fund is scaling to support SANParks’ small business suppliers within a 50km radius of AENP short-term working capital loans to help micro and medium enterprises (MSMEs) successfully deliver services to SANParks This is particularly critical in a country where SMMEs contribute approximately 40% of total GDP yet many struggle to access affordable finance.Ray-Ann Sedres highlights the significance of the initiative: “South African National Parks are a vital contributor to the country’s economy we are strengthening the local small business network ensuring that more SANParks suppliers can access the financial support they need to grow and contribute to sustainable economic development.”The programme implemented by I AM AN ENTREPRENEUR (IAAE) prioritises SANParks-approved SMME suppliers within a 50 km radius of national parks with some flexibility for special cases further afield as approved by SANParks The zero-interest loans help these businesses take on and complete projects without the burden of high borrowing costs.Skumsa Ntshanga Head of Socio-Economic Transformation at SANParks underscores the importance of providing economic assistance to local SMMEs to ensure equal access to opportunities "By expanding this programme to another one of our largest parks we cement our commitment to inclusivity for our local suppliers The fund allows the suppliers to grow their businesses contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic upliftment of their communities and helps ensure the smooth operation of our parks This aligns with our Vision 2040 of a harmonious co-existence between people and nature where they both prosper.”Programme Achievements So Far• R12.9million disbursed to 61 approved MSME (micro small and medium enterprises) applications – across Kruger National park Wilderness and Knysna).• 28% of the funded MSMEs are women-owned and 41% are youth-owned.• 153 jobs retained comprising 39 permanent and 114 temporary positions.• R1.5 million saved in total annualised interest by MSMEs.• R5.8 million reinvested into MSME operations "This initiative deeply aligns with our north star: to empower all Africans to be financially secure and prosperous," adds Sedres "We cannot achieve this without giving our micro and small business sector the support it needs to thrive It’s our privilege to play a part in unlocking this potential—particularly for our youth and women-owned businesses given the inequalities within our society."A Success Story from the Garden RouteOne of the programme’s early beneficiaries is Sidomela Trading Enterprise a construction business owned by Cynthia Odwa Majova in Plettenberg Bay.In January 2025 Sidomela Trading received a SANParks purchase order to refurbish three staff houses in the Knysna section of the Garden Route National Park Majova successfully applied for a zero-interest loan of R119 615.17 which was processed and disbursed within minutes This financial support enabled her business to take on the R351 495 project creating 13 jobs in the process.Reflecting on her experience "I am very happy with this Sanlam-SANParks partnership I will definitely apply for this fund again." “We are excited to support SMMEs in overcoming challenges by providing them with funding opportunities making it easily accessible to suppliers of our national parks We want as many local suppliers as possible to take advantage of this valuable opportunity.” The expansion into Addo Elephant National Park marks another step in empowering small businesses and ensuring that local suppliers can thrive while supporting South Africa’s conservation efforts Advisers and brokers have to make long-term calls against the backdrop of falling GDP and an uncertain GNU Which of these risks feature most strongly when you talk to clients © FAnews | Privacy Policy | Site Map | Website Design by Online Innovations Caption: The upgrade is taking place between Bezuidenhout River and Addo (The route is marked red on the map.) Closures marked in yellow 04 April 2025—The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) wishes to inform road users about the ongoing road upgrade project on the R336 which extends from Bezuidenhout River (approximately 13 km from Nqweba Town (formerly Kirkwood) to the intersection of the R336 and R335 near Addo The project is scheduled to continue until November 2025 This upgrade encompasses 17.7 km of the R336 specifically between the 30.5km and 48.2km road markers the road will undergo significant improvements construction of one new bridge and the addition of pedestrian facilities where necessary These upgrades are intended to improve overall mobility and create a safer driving environment During the Easter weekend from the 17th to the 21st April 2025 the road will feature two traffic closures and the average waiting time is 20 minutes Although the remainder of the route is open to traffic motorists must be aware that road line markings and road signs are temporary and the temporary speed limit of 60 km/h must be observed “It is essential to note that at the Sunday River Bridge and Bezuidenhout River Bridge and therefore motorists are urged to exercise extreme caution when crossing these bridges Motorists are encouraged to plan their journeys with the ongoing roadworks in mind and to drive carefully and at a reduced speed through the closures,” said Kayakazi Mafuta SANRAL’s Acting Eastern Cape Provincial Head “If motorists find themselves in an emergency and need to provide their position they should use the route markers along the side of the road These route markers are placed every 200m and provide sufficient information on the exact location and route Motorists are urged to be more cautious when driving on the R336. SANRAL apologises for any inconvenience caused during the road construction. Attempts have been made to minimize disruptions as far as possible,” added Mafuta. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Soccer Laduma (@soccer_laduma) SA News African News World News The Club House Podcasts & Videos More African Football A prominent Ghanaian figure has backed the growing calls for the dismissal of Black Stars coach Otto Addo following the team's failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.   The Black Stars endured a woeful campaign in Group F finishing bottom without securing a single victory They recorded three losses and three draws marking a qualifying campaign that will likely haunt Ghanaian football for years to come.   Read: Ex-Jomo Cosmos star vying for top role in Zim  This failure means the four-time AFCON champions will miss the prestigious tournament for the first time in two decades a bitter pill to swallow for a nation with such a proud footballing tradition.   Reports suggested that Addo was summoned by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to explain the team's dismal performance the majority of the GFA panel were thought to have been in favour of allowing the manager to continue in his role.   the president of the Ghana Olympic Committee describing the failure to qualify as a national "embarrassment."   "Ghanaians have every right to call for the sack of the coach," he told Asempa FM as reported by GHANAsoccernet.   "I believe that somebody must take responsibility for Black Stars' failure to qualify for the AFCON tournament For failing to win a single game in the qualifiers and also failing to qualify Nunoo Mensah further criticised the GFA's decision-making arguing that Addo should never have been appointed and suggested former Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah would have been a better option.   Kwesi Appiah has been one of Ghana's best coaches and it was sad we got him out in that manner," he added.  when there was an opportunity to appoint him again because we are constrained by financial difficulties we should look within ourselves."   Highlighting the success Ghana has achieved with local coaches in the past Nunoo Mensah argued for a renewed focus on nurturing home-grown managerial talent.   "Most of the AFCON titles we won were with Ghanaian coaches so why don't we look within ourselves and build people to the level of Pep Guardiola and co. Those local coaches will be more committed to the nation," he continued.  Read: Al Ahly urged to cut ties with Tau - 'He doesn't want to stay Caption: The upgrade is taking place between Bezuidenhout River and Addo – the route marked red on the map 4 December 2024 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has updated road users on the ongoing road upgrade project on the R336 This project extends from the Bezuidenhout River approximately 13km from Nqweba (formerly Kirkwood) to the intersection of the R336 and R335 near Addo The upgrade is expected to continue until November 2025 Covering 17.7km of the R336 between the km 30.5 and km 48.2 markers Phase 2 includes significant improvements such as widening lanes and shoulders and adding pedestrian facilities where required These enhancements aim to improve mobility and ensure a safer driving experience motorists should note that a one-stop-and-go system will be in place over a 1km stretch at the Bezuidenhout’s bridge structure located 13km from Nqweba and 17km from Addo While the rest of the route remains open to traffic temporary line markings and signage are in place and the entire stretch is designated as a no-overtaking zone motorists must adhere to a temporary speed limit of 60km/h Extra caution is advised when crossing the narrow Sundays River Bridge Motorists are encouraged to plan their journeys with the roadworks in mind and drive safely at all times motorists should use the route markers positioned along the roadside to provide their location contain precise details about the exact route and location ensuring assistance can reach them promptly “Motorists are advised to exercise heightened caution while traveling on the R336,” said Mbulelo Peterson Regional Manager for SANRAL Southern Region “We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused during the road construction Every effort has been made to minimise disruptions wherever possible.” Eastern Cape police have arrested four men and recovered three firearms and stolen cargo valued at R150 000 less than an hour after a courier bakkie was hijacked on the R335 near Addo Spokesperson and Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli says the suspects in a VW Polo forced the bakkie off the road on Wednesday morning shoved the driver to the passenger side and drove it to a secluded spot where they loaded most of the cargo into the Polo before fleeing Nkohli says the bakkie's driver alerted a passing motorist The Polo was spotted a few kilometres away with the assistance of an armed response vehicle from a local private security company managed to pull it over and arrest the four suspects They are expected to appear in the Kirkwood Magistrate’s Court soon on charges of carjacking The requested URL was not found on this server own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment University of Ghana provides support as an endorsing partner of The Conversation AFRICA For the first time in seven years, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will end the year without Ghana’s presidency weighing on his shoulders. Ghana goes to the polls on 7 December Akufo-Addo has served two terms as president and will be retiring from a long political life As a university student in the early 1960s, Akufo-Addo was known as a Trotskyite. But he eventually turned fully to his liberal political roots and affiliations. In the 1970s he aligned with opposition forces against then military leader Ignatius Kutu Acheampong Akufo-Addo’s campaign to return Ghana to civilian led democratic constitutional rule continued in the 1980s against the dictatorship of Jerry Rawlings When Ghana returned to constitutional rule in the early 1990s, Akufo-Addo was one of those who formed the Danquah-Busia Club, a group started by 12 people who believed in the ideals of J.B Danquah. This later became a political party, the New Patriotic Party It is one of the two parties that have governed Ghana since 1993 and produced two of the five presidents under the Fourth Republic The New Patriotic Party is considered right wing As a scholar of political science I have followed Akufo-Addo’s presidency with keen interest He was expected to do more than his predecessors and have a strongly positive economic and social impact on Ghana I argue that his presidency failed to live up to expectation Akufo-Addo’s victory in 2016 came after two previous attempts had ended in close losses to the National Democratic Congress He got off to a shaky start as president. His inaugural address plagiarised a speech by former American president George W considering the presidential campaign had made a new era of competence one of its core messages his presidency seemed to get on with the job of steering Ghana to its long expected rapid economic transformation On both the international and domestic fronts bold initiatives were announced and pursued Economic concerns included employment for Ghana’s young people and the stability of the financial sector. His presidency tried to deal with these matters through policies such as 1District 1Factory an industrialisation plan to promote manufacturing and create jobs He also initiated a banking sector clean-up made necessary by bad business practices and the weak capital positions of many banks This was controversial because some financial institutions were closed and people were laid off But it stabilised Ghana’s financial sector the great hope surrounding Akufo-Addo seemed to be draining off The COVID-19 pandemic reached Ghana in March 2020 – also an election year Akufo-Addo rose to the pandemic challenge by personally leading the policy responses There were measures to deal with public health and to mitigate socio-economic impacts Ghanaians were kept informed by regular television and radio addresses to the nation But Akufo-Addo was caught wrong footed in critical areas such as vaccine production capacity and the dearth of health facilities The COVID-19 response also resulted in charges of nepotism and corruption Ghana went to the polls in December 2020. The results were devastating for the Akufo-Addo government. Its parliamentary majority was wiped out and a hung parliament was sworn in The destructive impact of illegal mining on the environment across Ghana, and the abandoned site for the construction of a national cathedral in Accra arguably provide some of the most sobering images of the presidential term’s disappointing outcomes In a sense the Akufo-Addo presidency became a victim of the high hopes it inspired Source: www.ghanaweb.com « Prev Next » Comments (3) Listen to Article Otto Addo and Ernest Nuamah Copyright © 1994 - 2025 GhanaWeb. All rights reserved. Years of sewage pollution in Addo in the Sunday’s River Valley Local Municipality compelled the FF Plus to lodge complaints with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) and the Green Scorpions. Farmers in the Addo area who cultivate citrus fruits and farm with livestock are hot under the collar about the pollution problem which remains unresolved. Farmers claim that it threatens their and their workers’ survival. After receiving numerous complaints from these farmers, the FF Plus paid an oversight visit to the area. Sewage was found flowing ankle-high through one farmer’s orange orchard. Most of the fruit is destined to be exported, but the pollution could prevent their exportation. The sewage forms pools in Addo’s low-lying areas and flows under the R335 into the Sunday’s River. In the Nomathamsanqa area, there are manholes located in storm water channels which connect to the water user association’s channels that are used for irrigating orchards. Water flows from these channels to Cezars Dam which supplies the Addo and Paterson regions with drinking water. Residents have received several notices from the Municipality stating that it is not safe to drink water from the tap. The FF Plus itself brought the sewage problem to the attention of the municipal managers of the Sunday’s River Valley Local Municipality and the Sarah Baartman District Municipality numerous times, but every time the responsibility to address the problem was shirked through blame-shifting. Meanwhile, farmers are making their own plans to monitor the pollution and remove blockages. The ongoing sewage pollution not only violates residents’ human rights, but also violates environmental legislation and the FF Plus demands urgent intervention. The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) in the Mbombela Local Municipality (Mbombela/Nelspruit, Barberton, Hazyview, Kaapschehoop, Skukuza, White River) is deeply concerned by the utter lack Yesterday’s EFF march to Kleinfontein was nothing but political theatrics riddled with racism to divert attention away from the failures of the coalition in the The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) questions the Tshwane Metro’s Department of Human Settlements’ decision to relocate yet another 5 200 people to a piece ❗️Corné Mulder: GNU must unite or fail — as Trump-era US eyes ANC’s foreign blunders @alechogg @MulderCorn VF Plus dien griefskrif in teen Mangaung-watertariefverhoging | Freedom Front Plus Die VF Plus het ʼn griefskrif teen die Mangaung-metro se voorgestelde watertariefverhoging van 11% oorhandig aan die ... The Freedom Front Plus is committed to group rights, against affirmative action and towards a better SA for all. Following Ghana's failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations the nation's football association has admitted that head coach Otto Addo is owed four months' worth of wages.Ghana made headlines for all the wrong reasons in November 2024 as their failure to qualify for AFCON 2025 was confirmed The news caused widespread criticism of the coach and the players as it marked the first time the Black Stars failed to qualify for the showpiece since 2004 Read: Esteghlal make new 'cash offer' to Pitso It now appears that Ghana's problems go far beyond the pitch as it has been revealed that Addo is owed a significant portion of his earnings The Ghana Football Association (GFA) communications director has confirmed that they have not paid Addo for four months it is true we owe him [Otto Addo]," Twum confessed "The number of meetings we have had with the ministry and the reminders we have served them there are reports that the GFA is now considering appointing Nigerian tactician Augustine Eguavoen as Addo's replacement it is noted that sacking the latter would bring further financial complications for the Ghanaian football body Ghanaian sports journalist Emmanuel Ayamga told Soccernet.ng: "They desperately want to keep Otto Addo the new government was sworn in just two days ago We'll have a clearer picture once a Sports Minister is named." Read: African giants 'abandon' Mothiba signing Follow him here on X After failing to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations Ghana will now turn their attention to the World Cup qualifiers where they will lock horns with Chad at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday evening Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has been under an immense amount of pressure from fans however the team has performed well in the World Cup qualifiers so far winning three and losing one match in Group I They are level on points with group leaders Comoros only trailing behind in second-place due to having a lower goal difference Addo stressed the importance of positive results in their qualifying campaign urging fans to support Ghana’s bid for a fifth FIFA World Cup appearance “We came to seek for your support and guidance,” the coach said “We have difficult matches ahead of us and the country needs urgent victories to go to the World Cup especially the GA chiefs and the entire people so that everybody can be happy.” Despite his strong performances for Le Havre in Ligue 1 Andre Ayew was again omitted from Ghana’s squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar Ghana’s Minister of Sports and Recreation Kofi Adams shared that he raised concerns over the Ghana Football Association’s decision to retain Addo as the head coach of the national team and they explained their decision to keep Otto I registered them [at the meeting with GFA],” he said making a coaching change now might not be the best move.” the team is placed sixth in the qualifying group an opportunity presents itself to pick up points when they travel to face the Black Stars Site managed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has highlighted significant achievements in the mining and land sectors during his nearly eight-year tenure Speaking at his final State of the Nation Address to Parliament he emphasized a shift towards sustainable resource management and economic growth for Ghana A major milestone, he noted, is Ghana surpassing South Africa as Africa’s leading gold producer with production reaching a record four million ounces last year The President attributed this surge to a revitalized mining sector which included the reopening of major mines such as Obuasi and Bibiani He pointed also to the launch of the Cardinal Namdi Mine northern Ghana’s first large-scale operation and the development of new gold mines in Ahafo and the Upper West region as evidence of growth in Ghana’s natural resource governance “To maximize the benefits of its mineral wealth Ghana has embarked on ambitious value-addition initiatives A domestically owned 400-kilogram gold refinery is now operational and a US$450 million manganese refinery is planned for Nsuta “The establishment of the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation and the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation aims to further diversify the economy and create high-skilled jobs,” he said The President stated that environmental sustainability had been a cornerstone of his government’s strategy to ensure sustainable practices He highlighted initiatives such as the Ghana Forest Strategy and the Green Ghana project as key examples of this commitment “The Ghana Forest Plantation Strategy has resulted in the reforestation of 121,000 hectares of degraded land since 2017 has seen the planting of over 52 million trees in just four years,” he said President Akufo-Addo stated that his government’s commitment to environmental stewardship had gained international recognition with Ghana becoming the second African nation to receive results-based payments from the World Bank’s Carbon Fund for emissions reductions 400 subscribers and receive our weekly eNewsletter Please check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription Please check your inbox to confirm your subscription Ghana head coach Otto Addo has reacted to calls for him to resign following the team’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals The Black Stars failed to reach the AFCON finals for the first time since 2004 after drawing with Angola 1-1 on Friday before finishing at the bottom of Group F standings after losing 2-1 to Niger at home on Monday Addo has suggested that he will not resign with the Black Stars set to resume their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in March as they take on Chad at home and Madagascar away “Surely you don’t know me, you don’t know my life, what I’ve been doing and where I was, I was very down, people have been chasing me, whatever, you don’t know my life, but I’m nobody who can just wake up and resign,” Addo said on the Ghana FA website I would never become a player in the Bundesliga and I would never become a coach very different mindset than somebody who would resign Addo was appointed Ghana coach in March this year on a 34-month contract with an option to extend by another two years Founding member of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe has accused former President Akufo-Addo of influencing the leadership of the party despite not being a President anymore the revered statesman said the leadership style of the former President contributed to the current woes of the party and its defeat in the 2024 elections He believes the NPP as it is currently has been “destroyed” by some elements in the party who are after their parochial interest Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe called on the leadership of the party to seek counsel from senior members in the party to restore the party’s reputation they should find a way to get the party back to the state that it was I personally have really been shocked by the leadership of Akufo-Addo He came in and he never listened to anybody But you brought in your own cousin and it became a family affair,” he expressed When asked how he still blames Akufo-Addo for the party’s woes despite not being at the forefront Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe said “he is still pulling strings behind and website in this browser for the next time I comment Stay informed with the most relevant stories shaping Ghana and the world By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has confirmed that they held a technical review meeting with the Black Stars’ head coach Otto Addo This comes after the West African giants endured a disappointing 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign which saw the team fail to qualify for the finals for the first time since 2004 The GFA has now released the following statement indicating that they will hold further stakeholder engagement to decide the future of Addo following Wednesday’s meeting “The Executive Council and the Regional Football Chairmen shared the nation’s disappointment with the Head Coach at the meeting and the desire of all Ghanaians that the nation qualifies for the World Cup, hence the demand for better performance and results in the upcoming games, especially in the World Cup qualifying matches,” a GFA statement read “The Head Coach was informed that the Association would be holding further consultations with members and key stakeholders in the football ecosystem to enable the Association to come up with a comprehensive plan for the national team.” The Black Stars are set to resume their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in March as they take on Chad at home and Madagascar away A wildfire has destroyed an estimated 3,000 hectares of land in the Addo Elephant National (AENP) in the Eastern Cape which has since been brought under control broke out in the Zuurberg section of the park on Sunday night and has since spread to the Nyathi section SANParks spokesperson JP Louw said the wind has since changed direction there were no animal losses or other infrastructure 000 hectares that have been burnt but the teams on the ground will only be able to assess that once the weather and smoke allow," said Louw."The fires are in remote areas of AENP so the public is not in danger." He added that less wind and rain is predicted for Wednesday which will assist with containing the fire Teams from the AENP and the Sarah Baartman West Fire Protection Association are on site to manage the situation SANParks extended its gratitude to the public for their cooperation and understanding The Mahama government is preparing to introduce a new bill in Parliament to rename the C.K Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS) and several other public universities across the country made the announcement during the swearing-in ceremony of the Governing Council of CKT-UTAS in Accra established in 2021 to provide students with practical and technical skills for the global job market has faced various infrastructure challenges affecting its academic development the university’s name has drawn mixed reactions from the public with some stakeholders opposing it from the beginning He added that this move forms part of a broader initiative to review and potentially rename several public universities established or renamed during the tenure of former President Nana Akufo-Addo “We have had extensive consultations with the academic community Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences is likely to change—possibly reverting to the original vision “There will be a general bill to consider the renaming of several public universities that were renamed or established during former President Akufo-Addo’s administration,” Haruna stated Haruna Iddrisu clarified that the government’s proposal to rename several public universities is not intended to undermine the legacy of individuals after whom these institutions were named “This is not to say those individuals do not deserve recognition but the renaming will aim to reflect the foundational ethos and historical identities of the institutions,” he said Among the universities likely to be affected by the review are the University of Mines and Technology and the Abdulai Salifu University The proposed changes form part of a broader initiative to reassess the naming of public universities that were renamed or established during the administration of former President Nana Akufo-Addo The government is expected to table a bill in Parliament soon to formalise the renaming process Mahama nominates Paa Kwesi Baidoo as new KATH CEO Explore the world of impactful news with CitiNewsroom on WhatsApp CitiNewsroom.com is Ghana's leading news website that delivers high quality innovative alternative news that challenges the status quo © 2024 All Rights Reserved Citi Newsroom. Ghana head coach Otto Addo has called for support as the Black Stars prepare for their World Cup qualifier against Chad at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday evening Ghana are occupying second place in the Group I standings having won three and losing one of the World Cup qualifying matches They are behind log leaders Comoros due to having a weaker goal difference The Ghanaian national team 🇬🇭 trained at the Accra Sports Stadium today. They play Chad 🇹🇩 on Friday in the #WC2026Q#54footballx pic.twitter.com/XdhJ8oBR3y Les Sao have had a poor campaign having lost all four of their matches and languishing at the bottom of the standings the upcoming match against the Black Stars presents an opportunity for them to pick up points Ghana Minister of Sports and Recreation Kofi Adams is one of those who have reservations about the Ghana Football Association’s decision to keep Otto Addo as head coach I registered them [at the meeting with GFA],” said Adams making a coaching change now might not be the best move." Ghana – The Arsenal defender has returned to the national team fold after missing out for the better part of last year Now with an opportunity to represent the Black Stars once again Partey will be striving to put up a memorable performance and put the team a step closer to qualifying for the Fifa World Cup Quartet Mo Kudus, Thomas Partey, Iñaki Williams & Jordan Ayew join camp to complete a full house on Day 2 of the Black Stars' training.#OnuaSports #OnuaFM pic.twitter.com/b63zKFPJMU Marius Mouandilmadji, Chad – The forward plies his trade for Turkish Super Lig club Samsunspor and has registered eight goals and four assists this season. He’ll be looking to translate that form into the World Cup qualifiers, having already scored for the national team in their campaign so far. head coach Otto Addo has hit back at his critics insisting that he trained under Jurgen Klopp.The Black Stars will play no part in the next AFCON in Morocco after their hopes of qualifying were completely dashed following a 1-1 draw against Angola last Friday Read: France pip Italy to top spot in Nations League The side has found victories hard to come by as they have failed to register a single win during their five qualifying matches so far the four-time AFCON champions have only scored two goals during the qualifiers in a group comprising Angola Despite having one qualifying match remaining Ghana are now set to miss AFCON for the first time since 2004 a result that has drawn heavy criticism towards their manager Reports in the West African nation suggest that there have been calls for Addo to be sacked the tactician has highlighted his credentials as a coach I trained under Klopp; I was assistant to Edin Terzic but this has much more value if I speak to Jurgen Klopp and he says this or that than somebody from anywhere saying blah blah Ghana play their final qualifier against Niger at home on Monday evening Read: England thrash Ireland to secure Nations League promotion has sparked a heated debate after unveiling a statue of himself during a visit to the country's Western Region positioned outside the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi was meant to commemorate the president's development initiatives during his time in office The unveiling of the statue drew widespread criticism on social media with many accusing the president of "self-glorification." Opposition figures and ordinary Ghanaians voiced their dissatisfaction questioning the need for such a statue at a time when several key development projects remained unfinished "The people of the Western Region deserve better than these self-serving displays," opposition MP Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah posted on X reflecting the sentiment of many who felt the statue was unnecessary who was set to leave office in January after completing two terms toured various regions as part of a "thank-you tour." He claimed to have fulfilled 80% of the promises he made to Ghanaians during his presidency critics argued that the statue is a premature and extravagant gesture with some calling for its removal after the president steps down "It would be admirable if the president had allowed posterity to recognise and appreciate his work," one social media user commented on X seeing it as a tribute to Akufo-Addo's achievements "He is very deserving of this exquisite monument You will be missed by Ghanaians," one supporter posted praising Akufo-Addo as the "founder of Ghana's free education system." highlighted several key projects initiated under the president's administration emphasizing their impact on the Western Region his policy to eliminate secondary school fees stood out as his most significant legacy "Free education is my proudest achievement and it will continue to benefit generations of Ghanaians," the president said during the ceremony Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you There was a problem processing your submission The statue's unveiling came at a politically sensitive time with the nation preparing for general elections in December Akufo-Addo urged voters in the Western Region to support his deputy the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate in the upcoming election Akufo-Addo argued that a vote for Bawumia would ensure the continuation of the NPP's policies and development projects Bawumia faced stiff competition from former President John Dramani Mahama the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate issues like the high cost of living remained at the forefront of voter concerns While Akufo-Addo's supporters saw the statue as a lasting tribute to his contributions a significant portion of the public remained unconvinced with calls for its removal echoing louder as his term in office approaches its end Read the original article on Leadership I Believe Dr Bawumia Will Build On Accomplishments of President - First Lady Akufo-Addo AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 110 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals representing a diversity of positions on every topic We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Ghana coach Otto Addo has reflected on the side failing to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.The Black Stars needed to beat Angola on Friday to stand any chance of qualifying heading into their final game the four-time African champions could only manage a draw at Angola who have since qualified for the tournament Read: Barca 'identify' African star as Lewandowski replacement  Addo congratulated Angola on their qualification and lamented the Black Stars' ability to win their home games in the qualifiers while we were a little bit more under pressure," Otto Addo said after the game and I think it was not good enough from our side we have to look at all the games we played it is always difficult to play away and try to win because every nation is strong at home," he stated Ghana head coach Otto Addo has been dealt a blow ahead of the crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Sudan after four players withdrew from his squad through injury Thomas Partey was forced off in the closing stages of Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Southampton on Saturday and will undergo further tests this week to discern the extent of his injury Joseph Painstil went off with a hamstring issue towards the end of LA Galaxy’s 2-1 victory against Austin FC on Sunday and is scheduled for an MRI scan Feyenoord winger Osman Ibrahim sustained a calf injury in the 2-1 triumph over FC Twente on Sunday having been substituted in the 65th minute which led to his withdrawal for the two Group F encounters Samsunspor winger Kingsley Schindler is also unavailable as he is being treated for an unspecified medical problem he suffered in the 3-1 success against Adana Demirspor on Sunday The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has announced that Michael Baidoo Jonas Adjetey and Ibrahim Sadick received call-ups in place of the injured quartet Addo’s side play host to the Falcons of Jediane on Thursday before heading to Benghazi for the return leg next Monday South Africa (06 June 2024) — World Environment Day arrived with a welcomed gift for the Addo Elephant National Park team as the funds for a patrol boat for their Marine Protected Area changed hands By way of the Oak Foundation and presented by Wilderness Foundation Africa the boat cheque (to the tune of R1,300,000) will make a difference for the marine rangers component of the Addo Elephant National Park who work tirelessly to conserve and protect 114,000 hectares of marine ecosystems These ecosystems include everything from reefs to sandy beaches and islands The Marine Protected Areas of the Park also extend to feeding areas for 3,000 pairs of endangered African penguins (Algoa Bay) and those of the 90,000 endangered Cape gannets (Bird Island) As the eyes and ears of vigilance in their dedicated areas (which includes being based on vessels and at places like Bird Island) they are focused on confiscating vessels and fishing equipment issuing fines for marine-related crimes and even making arrests as part of the larger task to protect South Africa’s precious natural inhabitants and our biodiversity The eco-efforts undertaken by the marine rangers are both vital to the delicate structure of the many ecosystems in their care and also inspire youngsters from underserved communities to get involved in eco-careers as Wilderness Foundation (who have a collaborative relationship with SANParks) the team’s efforts can get along that much more effectively Ashleigh Nefdt is a writer for Good Things Guy Ashleigh's favourite stories have always seen the hidden hero (without the cape) come to the rescue her labour of love is finding those everyday heroes and spotlighting their spark - especially those empowering women sustainability shakers and creatives with hearts of gold she's dedicated to her canvas or appreciating Mother Nature Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "a621a34d283b78d833764f8dc9e20d64" );document.getElementById("d2d9e305b5").setAttribute( "id" Would you like to receive truly phenomenal inspirational and good thing stories right to your inbox Then subscribe to our weekly GoodThingsGuy newsletter today I accept GTG’s Privacy Policy GoodThingsGuy is the home of everything good and those are the things that really matter We believe that there is good news all around us and over 1 million readers a month agree with us GoodThingsGuy was officially launched on the 1 August 2015 in order to only promote good news inspirational stories and promote only positive multi-platform media company that distills unique content across multiple media platforms We consider individual and corporate contributions through the website or mail us directly here. Be sure you have your GPS enabled and try again Chad – The forward plies his trade for Turkish Super Lig club Samsunspor and has registered eight goals and four assists this season He’ll be looking to translate that form into the World Cup qualifiers having already scored for the national team in their campaign so far The longstanding rumour was confirmed by the Communications Director of the GFA Speaking to Ghana based media outfit Asempa FM Asante Twum confirmed the unpaid wages of the former Borussia Dortmund coach but equally stated that they are in discussions with the Sports Ministry to ensure the backlog debt is settled as soon as possible The last time I checked with the Sports Ministry there were salaries in arrears which is not new," he said "We owe Otto Addo four months' salary arrears We have had a series of meetings with the Sports Ministry about the outstanding payment and Otto Addo himself is aware of how difficult it is to get the monies from government but we are still working on it," Asante Twum added Otto Addo’s future with the Black Stars looks a little bleak having failed to qualify the senior national team for the next Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco later this year The team finished bottom of Group F without a win in six qualifying matches against nations like Niger Ghana will be missing at the AFCON having collected a paltry 3 points from the six qualifying matches with attention now shifted to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers which begins in March against Chad who was reappointed in March 2024 on a three-year deal with an option of a two-year deal Ghana coach Otto Addo is under pressure following the AFCON disasterKhaled Desouki / AFPFormer Ghana international Laryea Kingston (44) believes that Black Stars coach Otto Addo (49) deserves more time to turn the team's fortunes around, despite their failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).Addo was reappointed in March 2024 taking over from Chris Hughton on a permanent basis with a three-year contract that includes an option for a two-year extension However, after just eight months in charge, pressure is mounting on the 49-year-old coach, who has overseen Ghana’s worst-ever AFCON qualifying campaign, failing to secure a single victory. The four-time AFCON champions finished bottom of Group F, which included Sudan, Angola, and Niger Ghanaians have endured a challenging three months witnessing their national team lose at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium for the first time in two decades Ghana will not participate in AFCON for the first time since 2004 Despite this setback, Kingston remains confident that Addo needs more time to make necessary improvements we shouldn't change anything,” Kingston stated in an interview with Flashscore “I think Otto is even disappointed in himself And I believe by now he's trying to ask himself questions about what really happened and what he can do to improve it.” While the AFCON qualifiers have been rough Ghana's contrasting performance in the World Cup qualifiers offers hope for the future Back-to-back victories against Mali and the Central African Republic have propelled Ghana to joint top of Group I alongside Comoros Kingston warns against making hasty changes to the coaching staff: “If we change the coach and the technical team and bring new faces "I think we should allow him to at least finish the World Cup qualifiers - who knows So we should give him another opportunity.” Reflecting on his own experience in 2004 when Ghana failed to qualify for AFCON Kingston recalls being part of a new generation of players tasked with restoring pride in the national team His cohort quickly responded by qualifying for the 2006 World Cup - a feat he believes the current squad is capable of achieving as well “After we did not qualify for the AFCON the whole country was not happy and a new team was built I was lucky enough to join the new squad that the FA decided to build,” he recalled “I found myself with a lot of amazing footballers footballers that mentally they are very strong out there because it wasn't easy at all but we have players that they wanted to die for their nation “There were unfamiliar faces but once we found our rhythm "It was a similar situation like now but the structures put in place by Kwasi Nyantaki and Owoahene Acheampong to start something new helped,” he added Ghana will not be back in action until next March when they face Chad and Madagascar in World Cup qualifiers the Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association is expected to meet on Wednesday to discuss the failure to qualify for AFCON and evaluate Addo’s future with the team.