Day: May 22, 2023

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen met today with Minister of International Development of Canada, Harjit Singh Sajjan, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Among others, the two sides discussed ways of further enhancing development cooperation between Ethiopia and Canada against the backdrop of strong, longstanding ties.

Demeke told Minister Sajjan that the Government of Ethiopia is striving towards effecting development both at home and in the Horn of Africa by fostering investment and trade policies as well as forging strategic partnerships conducive to regional economic integration.

He said the Home-Grown Economic Reform Agenda and Digital Ethiopia 2025 are the pillars of Ethiopia’s transformative economic policy while capitalizing on youth job creation and women’s empowerment.

In this regard, international partners like Canada need to support Ethiopia’s development efforts and the ongoing peace consolidation efforts, as peace is the backbone of any development initiative, Demeke said.

The transitional justice, national dialogue and DDR processes need support and cooperation to be fully implemented and are stepping towards an integrated economic ecosystem suitable for potential investors in the agro-processing, mining, manufacturing, and tourism sectors, he said.

Ethiopia at the moment is focused on effecting the 2nd phase of the Home Grown Economic Reform Agenda, especially in the priority areas that are identified as key drivers of development , such as agriculture, manufacturing, mining, tourism, and renewable energy, as Demeke noted.

The recent launching of the LT-LEDS and the continuous Green Legacy Initiative is also a demonstration of Ethiopia’s commitment to building a climate-change resilient nation while ensuring a conducive milieu for international investors and development partners, he said.

Minister of International Development of Canada, Harjit Singh Sajjan, for his part, noted the longstanding Ethio-Canadian development cooperation and vowed to continue the tradition.

Among others, the minister expressed the Canadian government keenness to support initiatives aimed at increasing agricultural productivity on top of improving food security.

He added that improvements in the agricultural sector in Ethiopia should be seen not only as food security efforts but also as economic opportunities that businesses from Canada could take part in.

The Minister reassured the Demeke of Canadian support not only in the consolidation of peace but also in holistic development undertakings.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Ethiopia notes with dismay that the resolution adopted by the recent Summit of the League of Arab States echoed Egyptian hostile rhetoric regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

In a statement it issued today, the Ministry said that the resolution is an affront to the African Union and its Member States, which are working to bring an amicable negotiated resolution to the GERD matter.

It also runs contrary to the cherished and shared history of the peoples of Africa and the Arab world, the statement added.

In 2015, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan signed the Agreement on the Declaration of Principles, which unambiguously provides that the construction of the Dam shall continue in parallel to the negotiations on the guidelines and rules on the first filling and operation of the Dam. The details of dam filling, including the volume and duration, have been agreed upon between the experts of the three countries.

“Throughout the process, going out of its way, Ethiopia has catered to the concerns of Egypt and Sudan. Ethiopia is and will continue to act respecting the principle of equitable and reasonable utilization of the waters of the Nile.”

Thus, the ministry stated that the allegation that Ethiopia has taken unilateral measures is a deliberate mischaracterization. Egypt’s attempts to exert pressure on Ethiopia by using the Arab League forum represent its lack of good faith and violation of the Agreement on the Declaration of Principles it concluded with Ethiopia and Sudan.

According to the statement, Ethiopia works closely with Sudan on all bilateral matters, including regarding the GERD.

Ethiopia commended those Member States of the League of Arab States that cautioned against Egypt’s attempts to escalate the matter.

“Ethiopia is confident that members of the League, particularly the Member States of the African Union, will disassociate themselves from this resolution. They should prevent Egypt’s further misuse of the League that could potentially create a rift in the longstanding African-Arab friendship and historic relations,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs underlined.

Ethiopia called upon Egypt to abandon its unlawful claim to the monopoly of the Nile River, citing defunct colonial agreements and a colonial-mentality-based position negotiate in good faith and reach a win-win outcome.

Egypt should also act responsibly to lay the foundation for future generations of all the Nile River basin countries to nurture friendship and cooperation based on mutual respect, the statement said.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The dust is yet to settle as a Nigerian chef, Hilda Bassey broke World cooking records previously held by an Indian Lata Tondon.

In 2019, Lata cooked for 87 hours 45 minutes to hold the highest record ever attempted by a woman. But on Monday, May 15, 2023, Hilda Effiong Bassey cooked for 100 hours, beating her Indian counterpart in the Guinness World Record of longest cooking hours.

Nigerians trooped to her cooking site in Lekki, Lagos, to give their support to the sensational cook, who had become the star of the moment.

The meals from her kitchen fed thousands who took turns to have a taste of her cuisine.

Short;y after the feat, the Guinness Book of Records, said they were still verifying claims of her records. Days later, Hilda informed her fans that before she is officially proclaimed the record holder, she will need to upload proofs “and they are heavy to do so” she said, while asking fuming Nigerians to be calm.

But this is not all, a Liberian Chef, made things worst when he announced that he will be challenging Hilda to break her records. This is just a day after she hit 100 hours of non-stop cooking.

I find this appalling that some Africans who are supposed to support their own and celebrate the grace of Hilda, are instead throwing themselves into unhealthy competition.

When Indian-born, Lata Tondon, broke the records, there was no Indian, nor Asian who came up to brake the records. They all supported her, in her newfound fame.

The same Chef, Wonyean Aloycious, never came up to challenge the Indian but was quick to jump up and challenge Hilda.

When rumors broke out that he was about to make a challenge even before Hilda’s certification, I thought it was a joke until I made some research and found him confirming.

He said he was doing it for the culture.

In his own words, “GWR doesn’t have a time duration for one to break another person’s record! In so doing I don’t need anybody’s approval to make attempts in breaking a week-old record ????It’s not a hate or jealousy as you’ll see it”

I see a lazy chef who lacks initiative and can only get such when his fellow African Chef attempts a feat.

The Liberian Chef, Aloysius said, “I’m officially expressing my interest in sitting 120hrs new record for me and my country, breaking previous records holders.”

But this will have to wait until the GWR approves his challenge to start.

My question is why did he wait until Hilda breaks the record? I she out for publicity and clout chasing?

One thing is certain, the Liberian people and their media, have been pouring unflinching support and Aloysius is bent on seeing this happen.

Source: Cameroon News Agency