Last week Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-Calif.), ranking member of the House Africa Subcommittee, alongside other officials, cheered the passage of the African Growth & Opportunity Act (AGOA) and Millennium Challenge Act (MCA) Modernization Act, which passed by a unanimous vote on the House floor.
The bill included Bass’s MCORE Act of 2015, which enables eligible countries with Millennium Challenge Corporation compacts to simultaneously enter one additional compact if the country is making considerable and demonstrable progress in implementing the terms of the existing Compact.
The legislation was introduced by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-Calif.) and is expected to make AGOA more effective by directing the president to establish a website with information regarding AGOA and by encouraging embassies in chosen countries to promote export opportunities to the United States.
Those involved expect that it will also promote and develop a stronger economic relationship between sub-Saharan Africa and the United States.
Ghana to Pair with U.S. Group to Enhance Tourism
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with The Adinkra Group (TAG) to collaborate in increasing tourism business and investment in Ghana through various projects, including the Back2Africa Tour and Heritage Documentary this February.
The signing of the MOU is part of ongoing efforts by GTA to maximize exposure of Ghana as destination of choice in the U.S. market. The collaboration aims to streamline the framework of engagement between GTA and TAG whose core objectives include connecting people of African descent with the culture and traditions of Africa through the arts and education.
“This MOU signifies a strong push in our quest to form strategic alliances with key actors in Africa tourism,” said Diallo Sumbry, CEO of The Adinkra Group. “GTA has taken the bull by the horn in seeking to build on Ghana’s previous success with Panafest by working with us to introduce an annual Back2Africa Heritage Tour. We are delighted with this partnership and the opportunities it presents to both organizations.”
African Media Initiative Announces New Leadership
The African Media Initiative (AMI) — a pan-African organization that seeks to strengthen the continent’s private and independent media sector from an owner and operator perspective to promote democratic governance, social development and economic growth — has announced the members of a reconstituted board and the new management team.
In a letter to new and outgoing members of the board, Wale Aboderin, its chair, underscored the importance of taking measures to ensure AMI continues its mission of fostering a pro-development media in Africa.
The board also announced the appointment of Dr. Roukaya Kasenally to replace CEO Eric Chinje, whose term has ended. Kasenally will head a leadership team that includes senior advisers Wangethi Mwangi and Chinje, who, at the urging of the board chair, agreed to stay on and support the new CEO.