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Current problems in the relationship between the United States and Ghana

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Current problems in the relationship between the United States and Ghana

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Ghana has obtained good results in the socioeconomic aspect, largely thanks to the successive
administrations of the USA. The United States has tried to encourage the development of Africa
and sees Ghana as a stable partner and therefore maintains a bilateral aid relationship since 1957.
The United States supports Ghana in different ways, such as by including it in its projects on food
security, health, climate change, electric power, peacekeeping and security. Ghana also receives
money from the United States to solve certain problems, as well as support in the educational field
in the form of exchange visits of learning and cooperation between educational and scientific
institutions, and thousands of Ghanaians have studied in the United States.
The current president, Donald Trump, has expressed his support for maintaining close and
continuous cooperation, but lately there have been problems due to the non-cooperation of
Ghana with the procedures of application of the immigration law of the USA. UU In addition, the
Administration also carried out heavy cuts in bilateral aid due to its purpose of reducing foreign
assistance. These two situations could affect the good relationship between these countries.
In June 2018, the United States threatened to impose visa restrictions on Ghana due to Ghana&#39;s
alleged lack of cooperation with respect to deportations of Ghanaians who violate United States
immigration laws, an issue that we know is very important for Trump.
In recent years, Ghana&#39;s earnings from trade with the United States have largely declined, in
addition to the fact that the Trump administration, while maintaining bilateral aid agreements, has
also made important budget cuts for these country agreements because of Trump&#39;s claim that the
leaders of all countries should prioritize the economic interests of their own nations. The curious
thing about the changes in these agreements is that while the United States reduces the
cooperation with Ghana, Ghana is available for the needs of the United States.

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Ghana: Current Issues and U.S. Relations in Brief

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Ghana, a country of 27.5 million people on West Africa's Atlantic coast, faces diverse development challenges, but has built a robust...

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Most of us Africa-watchers have secretly hoped that President Trump would leave Africa alone. We had good reason to worry. Nearly 580 days into his term, Trump tweeted the word "Africa" for the first time. It was a disaster.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1032454567152246785
For many years, the lie that South Africa's white farmers have been facing a genocide at the hands of South Africa's black government has been a rallying cry for the far-right, racists and white nationalists around the world, including David Duke, a former Ku Klux Klan leader. White-nationalist groups are now celebrating the tweet. The South African government responded rather differently, saying it "rejects this narrow perception which only seeks to divide our nation and reminds us of our colonial past."

South Africa's Natives Land Act of 1913 forcibly stripped land from blacks, a policy then reinforced by apartheid. Under President Nelson Mandela, the post-apartheid South African government introduced land reform programs to attempt to peacefully restore land taken from black South Africans. But those efforts have actually benefited white South Africans more than blacks. In 2013, Bernadette Atuahene and Alfred L. Brophy wrote in The New York Times: "Of the nearly 80,000 claims filed primarily by blacks, the post-apartheid state has settled about 70 percent by distributing a Standard Settlement Offer, which is a symbolic monetary compensation that is unrelated to the current or past market value of the property confiscated."

Current white owners received payments of "several orders of magnitude higher than a typical settlement offer proposed to dispossessed blacks."

Indeed, white South Africans, who make up 9 percent of the population, still own 72 percent of the country's private land. This year, South Africa's parliament cleared the way for the government to expropriate land without compensation to speed up the process. (Contrary to Trump's tweet, the government of South Africa has yet to confiscate any land.)

As for the so-called large-scale killing of white farmers, according to South African police statistics from 2016 to 2017, 74 people were killed in just more than 630 attacks on farms or small plots of land, while the total number of killings in South Africa over the same period was about 19,000. During an interview with the Associated Press, Gareth Newham, the head of the crime and justice program for the Institute for security studies in Pretoria, said the number of murders is actually down from 2001-2002, when 140 farm killings were noted by police. "The murders on farms are a reflection of the security situation in South Africa. There is absolutely no evidence that the violence is aimed at white farmers." Newham said.

Some say the president's tweet was an attempt to distract from the "real" story: the white-collar criminal cases of former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen and Paul Manafort, the president's former campaign chairman. It is tempting to see white-collar crime and high-level corruption as separate from Trump's elevation of white nationalists.

But white supremacy and racism have always been a form of social and political corruption. Together they form an ideology that is dependent on segregation, rent discrimination, unequal land distribution and legally sanctioned theft - all in the name of benefiting white populations. White supremacy is a form of social corruption that costs lives, money and resources. If corruption is defined as the systematic abuse of state power to specifically benefit an individual or a group, then apartheid in South Africa, the Jim Crow era in the southern United States, as well as today's racial inequalities in housing, schooling and the justice system constitute corruption of the highest order. White supremacy is the original transnational white-collar crime.

After all, the social corruption of white supremacy is what has propelled a uniquely unqualified candidate to the White House - namely Trump's promises to curb nonwhite immigration, impose travel bans on Muslims and disparage people of color. There is something particularly perverse about the fact that Trump's first Africa policy pronouncement was aimed at protecting white people on the continent. Is it any surprise the head of an administration known for its conflicts of interest, who has scaled back civil rights efforts and fetishized the plight of white American farmers, finds common cause with apologists for South African apartheid, one of the most kleptocratic systems in history?

"Donald Trump has never visited the African continent in his private life or as president of the United States," says Patrick Gaspard, the former U.S. ambassador to South Africa under President Barack Obama. Gaspard points out that the current administration hasn't named an ambassador to South Africa, an important regional partner. "Trump needs to keep Africa's name out of his mouth."

For those who believe Trump intended his tweet as distraction - it certainly hasn't worked very well, at least so far. Cable news channels have focused overwhelmingly on Manafort and Cohen, which is not surprising given the U.S. media's penchant for under-covering Africa. With more than half of black South Africans living below the poverty line (less than 1 percent of white South Africans do), the future of democratic South Africa largely hinges on economic opportunities for its black population, which in turn are bound closely with the distribution of land. Trump's appalling tweet should be treated as the major foreign-policy scandal that it is.

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Opinion | Trump's South Africa tweet is a reminder that white supremacy is the original white-collar crime

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Most of us Africa-watchers have secretly hoped that President Trump would leave Africa alone. We had good reason to worry. Nearly 580 days into his term, Trump tweeted the word "Africa" for the first time. It was a disaster.

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Trump issued an unfortunate tweet about South Africa, revealing the presence of white supremacy

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Trump issued an unfortunate tweet about South Africa, revealing the presence of white supremacy

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On August 22, 2018, the president of the United States, Donald Trump, published a tweet in which he said that in South Africa a large number of white farmers were being killed and that farms and other lands were being expropriated. The president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, responded to Trump saying that South Africa is a country with a lot of inequality and that is why the problem of the unequal distribution of land is due.

Inequality in land ownership is due to the Native Lands Act of 1913, by which 93% of the land was given to the white minority, thus stripping the South Africans of their land, unfairly. In 1936 a new law changed the percentage, decreasing to 87% of land for whites. Later, the Constitution stipulated that the land stolen should be returned to the stripped, but this has not happened, since the owners want to sell their land at too high prices.

In 2017, the African National Congress (ANC) adopted a resolution to redistribute the land without compensation, since the possession of the lands by white people is unfair, because they were not given to them by the will of the South Africans, but because colonization and apartheid. However, despite changes made by the South African government, inequality persists, 72% of farms and land for agricultural use belong to whites who represent 8.2% of the population.

Regarding the alleged murders of white farmers, this is not a truthful fact, because these murders have not occurred in large numbers, for which the government explains that it is true that there is a lot of crime in the country, and that is why the murders of those farmers, not because they were white.

So once again, the United States, in this case specifically Trump, has issued a totally uninformed trial. This act was highly judged because Trump was "concerned" about these problems just because of the fact that they were white people, thus proving that discrimination, inequality and white supremacy are still present, and that even the president of the most powerful nation in the world doesn't care to put this in evidence.

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United States President Donald Trump's incendiary August 22 tweet, contending that white farmers are being killed on a "large scale" in South Africa and that farms and other lands are being expropriated, has become part of his well-known toolkit for boosting appeal among his political base while sowing racial discord at home and abroad.

Appropriately, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa hit back at Trump within hours of the tweet, in a clear and forceful message in the Financial Times. The essence of Ramaphosa's statement is that South Africa is a profoundly unequal society and the distribution of land is at the heart of that inequality, along with education, income, jobs, and skills. As president of South Africa, Ramaphosa has pledged to address this inequality resulting from land dispossession during the colonial and Apartheid eras. In light of the attention on South Africa's land distribution issue, it is important to present the facts.

What is the land redistribution challenge in South Africa?

The inequality of land distribution in South Africa is rooted in the 1913 Natives Land Act that reserved almost 93 percent of the land for the white minority. This act legalized the historical dispossession of the African population. The 1936 Native Trust and Land Act slightly decreased that share to 87 percent, but the vast inequality of land ownership persists today.

In the constitution that made possible the peaceful transition from apartheid to democracy, it is specified that land should be restituted to the people and communities dispossessed during the colonial and Apartheid eras. According to the Section 25 of the constitution, it stipulates that there should be just and equitable compensation for expropriated land. This section has inspired the "willing-seller, willing-buyer" land redistribution policy of previous governments. Under such a market-based approach, the government would purchase and redistribute land to the dispossessed people and communities. However, progress has been slow at best for many reasons, including property owners who refuse to sell, exorbitant prices, and inadequate dispute resolution mechanisms.

The slow pace of the implementation since the adoption of the new constitution in 1994 led some experts such as South African constitutional law scholar Pierre de Vos to consider the "willing-seller, willing-buyer" policy inefficient, and possibly "unconstitutional because the measures are not reasonable in that they do not allow the state to move as expeditiously as possible to address the effects of past unfair (race-based) land dispossession."

To address this issue, the parliament passed a bill in 2016, under the presidency of Jacob Zuma, to end the "willing-buyer, willing-seller" approach to land reform. This new bill enabled the government to pay at adjudicator value and expropriate land for the public interest. In 2017, the African National Congress (ANC) adopted a resolution to redistribute land without compensation, which was backed by the parliament for inclusion in the constitution in 2018 and followed by public hearings on amending Section 25 of the constitution.

Today in South Africa, 72 percent of farms and agricultural holdings are owned by whites, who make up 8.2 percent of the population. Black South Africans, who comprise 80.2 percent of the population, own 4 percent of the land.

Why is land distribution important for South Africa?

The World Bank recently published a significant study, Overcoming the legacy of exclusion in South Africa, which contends that a well-managed system of land distribution is essential to redressing the country's economic inequality. According to the study, the inequality is exacerbated by the limited titling of property, limited access to finance, weak property rights, limited land valorization, lack of sustainable investment, among other factors. The government of South Africa is thus looking to reform its land policy with the hopes of boosting productive land use among the poor to curb rising poverty levels in the country.

According to Statistics South Africa, about 50 percent of South Africans, or 30.4 million people, were poor in 2015. The people suffering the most from inequality, exclusion, and poverty are those with little or no education and skills-children and women, black Africans, and people living in rural areas, such as the Eastern Cape and Limpopo. South Africa therefore has one of the highest levels of inequality in the world, with a particularly high level of unemployment, about 26.7 percent in the last quarter of 2017, and about 50 percent among youths. Boosting the overall productive use of land would be vital to reversing the high unemployment, extreme poverty, and inequality faced in South Africa, including in rural areas which host about 35 percent of the population.

South Africa is globally recognized for its strong constitutional democracy

South Africa has one of the most progressive and admired constitutions in the world, which was negotiated in large part by Ramaphosa under the guidance of Nelson Mandela and other ANC leaders. As such, the comparison to Zimbabwe's situation made by some observers is misguided. As noted by the U.S. Department of State: "The situation between South Africa and also Zimbabwe is quite different... In Zimbabwe [under former President Robert Mugabe], we saw the government there... destroy(ed) an independent judiciary. And we have not seen that happen in South Africa."

Trump's tweets incorrectly suggest that the land distribution process in South Africa is disorderly and unlawful. Land reform in South Africa is an emotive, complex, and important issue, and it is being carried out according to the laws of the country. The Ramaphosa government has committed to making accelerated land reform a priority in a way that previous South African governments have not.

What is next for South Africa and US-Africa relations under Trump?

In his response to Trump, Ramaphosa indicates that the ANC will propose a constitutional amendment that would make explicit the conditions under which land could justifiably be expropriated without compensation, which could include unused land, informal settlements, and abandoned inner-city buildings. While this information is welcome, the ANC needs to come forward with a clear blue-print for addressing land reform as it has in the past with other initiatives. In the aftermath of the ANC's electoral victory in 1994, the government issued the Reconstruction and Development Plan that set goals for job creation, housing, and electricity. While some goals were met, and others missed, it was tremendously helpful in setting expectations-at home and abroad.

Finally, Trump's tweet and his other abhorrent comments about Africa do not reflect the larger architecture of U.S.-Africa relations. Programs-such as Power Africa, the Young Africa Leaders Initiative, the African Growth and Opportunity Act, and the proposed BUILD Act aimed at enhancing U.S. investments in the continent-not only have strong bipartisan support in Congress, but also have support from the Trump administration. President Trump could advance U.S.-Africa relations by consulting his own Department of State staff and independent experts who have a deep understanding of issues at play in Africa. This is the time to finally develop a comprehensive U.S. Africa policy.

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Land redistribution in South Africa, Trump's tweet, and US-Africa policy

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United States President Donald Trump's incendiary August 22 tweet, contending that white farmers are being killed on a "large scale" in South Africa and that farms and other lands are being expropriated, has become part of his well-known toolkit for boosting appeal among his political base while sowing racial discord at home and abroad.

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US Embassy issued a false warning of terrorist attacks in South Africa

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US Embassy issued a false warning of terrorist attacks in South Africa

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The United States and South Africa assure to maintain a friendly relationship in various areas such as political, economic, social and security. But in the year 2016 there was a conflict between these nations because the United States warned its citizens in South Africa that there was a threat of terrorist attacks, a fact that South Africa denied.

The US embassy in Pretoria issued an alert saying there was a threat of terrorist acts in shopping centers in Johannesburg and Cape Town, arguing that the Islamic State called the followers of jihadist group to undertake attacks against Western targets during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

The alert from the US embassy caused fear among US citizens in South Africa, who wondered if their lives were in danger and how the South African government would protect them.

A few days later, the South African government responded that there were no arguments for the alert issued, because there was no evidence of the veracity of the information provided by the United States. There was no way to prove who was right, which caused uncertainty in the people, but for the government of South Africa it was clear that there was no such threat, but it was disconcerting the way in which the United States acted.

As is well known, the United States has a long history of situations related to terrorism, so it is believed that seized the reaction that a new terrorist threat would cause on its citizens in order to question the efficiency of the South African government and create chaos in the country. The reason why they would do something like this is what has created confusion, since these two countries claim to maintain a good cooperative relationship.

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The US embassy in South Africa has warned of terror threats to the country's upmarket malls. Reuters/Mike Hutchings

On Saturday June 4 2016 the United States embassy in Pretoria issued a warning to its citizens in South Africa that there was a heightened threat of terror attacks in the country's upscale shopping malls in Johannesburg and Cape Town. The threat was tied to the jihadist group Islamic State's appeal to its followers to undertake attacks on Western targets during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. For the next several days, skittish South African shoppers strode through Sandton and Rosebank's fancy shopping centres wondering if and how their own government would respond to the apparent threat.

Four days later, on June 8, the South African government did indeed respond. A joint announcement by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation ( DIRCO) and the State Security Agency ( SSA) stated: "The information provided as a basis for the latest terror alerts on South Africa has been found to be very sketchy. On closer examination, we have found the information to be dubious, unsubstantiated and provided by a 'walk-in' source based on questionable conclusions."

Put simply, South Africa disagreed with the assessment of the US (as well as the United Kingdom and Australia) that a credible terror threat existed. This is not unusual. There are often disagreements both within and across intelligence agencies as to the seriousness of a potential threat.

Informed debate

The question of how "credible" the threat was (or is) is also vexing because for the public it is unanswerable. Without access to the various pieces of information that the intelligence agencies used to form their judgment about the severity of the threat, the public cannot engage in an informed debate. They cannot decide for themselves whether South African or American officials came to a more accurate conclusion about the gravity of the danger posed.

But the joint DIRCO-SSA statement did more than dismiss the credibility of the American warning. It also indicated that the American motive for issuing the warning was not necessarily to keep its citizens safe. In an accusation unmistakably directed at the US, the statement read:

... the South African government rejects attempts by foreign countries to influence, manipulate or control our country's counter-terrorism work. We reject attempts to generate perceptions of government ineptitude, alarmist impressions and public hysteria on the basis of a questionable single source.

This is a serious allegation. It suggests that the US issued the terror advisory to undercut the South African government's integrity and sow confusion within the country.

Regime change

Unfortunately, the theme of this accusation is not new. In February 2016 African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe suggested that the US Young African Leadership Initiative was designed to foment regime change in South Africa.

In 2014, Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Kebby Maphatsoe labelled Public Protector Thuli Madonsela a CIA spy. He claimed she was attempting to undermine the ruling ANC and put a regime friendly to Washington in power. None of these accusations have been substantiated.

Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko

Thus the latest DIRCO-SSA statement accusing the US of attempting to destabilise South Africa must be seen in a broader context of mistrust and paranoia that continues to plague relations.

This mistrust matters. It could result in not just hurt feelings, but an actual breakdown in cooperation on key issues between South Africa and the US. And cooperation, especially in the realm of counter-terrorism, is vital.

Effective counter-terrorism

The DIRCO-SSA statement confidently proclaims: "The South African government is fully capable of securing our country, protecting our people and taking care of the safety of foreign citizens on our soil."

But this is not true. Global threats, such as terrorism, do not respect borders and therefore are difficult for any one state to combat. Effective counter-terrorism demands cooperation across states, and is impeded by petty conflicts between them. Casting wild allegations that the US warning is based on malevolent intent hinders rather than helps this cooperation.

While unproductive, South Africa's pique might be somewhat understandable. That is if the US did not follow the correct channels to issue its warning, as the DIRCO-SSA statement suggests. The facts regarding what channels ought to be followed, and which ones actually were, are unclear. At the very least the South African government felt it was not consulted sufficiently before the US warning went public.

There is room here for growth in the relationship. Developing a clear understanding as to how to handle these types of terror alerts in the future would be a small but important trust-building step in a sometimes strained relationship.

But broader questions must also be addressed. A more measured statement found on the South African Presidency website affirms that, "South Africa and the United States continue to enjoy strong and cordial relations in various areas of cooperation including political, economic, social and security matters." But friends don't openly accuse friends of seeking to undermine them. If South Africa and the US want fruitful collaboration to continue, an end to public accusations and increased communication would be a good start.

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Terror threats and turmoil: a bad time for US-South Africa relations

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On Saturday June 4 2016 the United States embassy in Pretoria issued a warning to its citizens in South Africa that there was a heightened threat of terror attacks in the country's upscale shopping malls in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

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South African racism trends on Twitter down under

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South African racism trends on Twitter down under

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New Zealanders have sparked a debate on Twitter after complaining about white South Africans who bring their "racism" to New Zealand.
It all started when @Brad_Kul, people they would not accept in their country, his tweet went viral, an also started a debate, many New Zealanders added their personal experiences to support his tweet,  some South Africans applauded him for speaking out and others asked him not to generalise.
And with that, a debate about racism started on the part of white South Africans, but it was also discussed how the New Zealanders could not go pointing fingers, because of the historical racism in the country, citing examples of how the Maori population had been discriminated against.

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New Zealanders have sparked a debate on Twitter after complaining about white South Africans who bring their "racism" down under.

It all started when @Brad_Kul, who listed his location as Aotearoa, the Maori name for New Zealand, pointed out that there were certain people they would not accept in their country.

He recently tweeted: "In New Zealand, there's only two types of people we will not tolerate. 1. Racists 2. White South Africans. Honestly those people are the f*cking worst! When are we marching and holding peaceful protests against those fuckers! Have you met one? The worst!"

His tweet received more than 3 000 retweets.
Read: Steering clear of Twitter Delinquent Disorder
He added shortly afterwards: "This is me poking fun at my own prejudices and irony. I hear a South African accent and immediately assume that they will be racist assholes."

His comments elicited a mixed bag of replies.

Many New Zealanders added their personal experiences to support his tweet, while some South Africans applauded him for speaking out and others asked him not to generalise.

User @kilbrniesanders, who listed his location as Wellington City, tweeted: "White South Africans who have emigrated to NZ to escape the end of apartheid who then complain about NZ multiculturalism are world champions in missing the point."

Another user, @surlymermaid, commented: "Literally 95% of the time I meet a white South African I can guarantee they will say something racist, sexist or homophobic within the first 10mins. Don't @ me if you are a white South African in the 5%, instead tell your fellow white South Africans to shut the hell up."
Read more: Somizi says jail is waiting for student after racist tweet
User Franda Zondagh, who lived in Hamilton City, asked New Zealanders not to generalise.

She tweeted: "I promise we are not all like that. While I embrace my Afrikaans heritage & language as it undeniably shaped me into who I am, I chose to keep the good and reject the bad. It makes me sad that I have to be ashamed of my culture. Please don't judge us all by the actions of some."

User @DuppieCharl commented: "I am a white South African living in NZ. The irony is, that when I meet a large majority of Kiwis, and they recognise my accent as being from SA, they immediately see it as a safe zone to express their own racist opinions. It is sad that they assume I will not find it repulsive."

Many users from South Africa applauded @Brad_Kul for his comments.

User @Zulu_Kamikaze tweeted: "I don't think @Brad_Kul realizes how much of a legend he is becoming to us Black South Africans, keep dropping facts bro, we are definitely listening."

@Muhle_New said: "If only we could exchange all of them for you...all of them, free of charge."

Seemingly from South Africa, @whatonearthSA asked why racial tensions were being stoked, tweeting: "Hello Brad, I trust you are well. I see White South Africans bother you. What have they done to cause you to feel that way? I've never been to your nation but I have only positive impressions from the New Zealanders I know. Given the tense situation in South Africa, why the hate?"

A few Twitter users noted that New Zealanders could not point fingers because of the historical racism in the country, citing examples of how the Maori population had been discriminated against.

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South African racism trends on Twitter down under

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New Zealanders have sparked a debate on Twitter after complaining about white South Africans who bring their "racism" down under. It all started when @Brad_Kul, who listed his location as Aotearoa, the Maori name for New Zealand, pointed out that there were certain people they would not accept in their country.

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According to the most recent economic data, in 2015 South African merchandise trade, both imports and exports, to the 28 members of the EU amounted collectively to USD38.3 billion, representing approximately 26 per cent of South Africa’s total merchandise trade, The EU is by far South Africa’s largest trading partner, almost 40 per cent bigger than its second most important trading partner, the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Te UK accounts for approximately 15 per cent of all South Africa’s trade with the EU, representing 3.7 per cent of South Africa’s global trade.

Te most signifcant threat of Brexit to South Africa will arise from reduced export demand if the negotiations damage the UK economy. But with UK destined exports standing at just 4 per cent of South Africa’s total exports and a reasonable worst case scenario of the British economy shrinking between –2.5 and –5.0 per cent of GDP by 2020 if a Hard Brexit approach is adopted, the direct impact of Brexit on the South African economy is likely to be marginal.

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Brexit is warming up again: here’s how it affects South Africa

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Brexit is warming up again: here’s how it affects South Africa

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Brexit is the impending withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. If the UK fails to get a Brexit deal with the EU and instead trades with it under World Trade Organisation rules, that potentially presents a “financial stability event”.

Many South African companies have their European headquarters in the UK, and they use these as a base to serve the rest of Europe. Depending on which way the Brexit swings these companies may be forced to set up a base somewhere else to continue to do business in Europe.

This could create the risk of significant additional cost to companies, as well as major impacts from a human resources perspective. A potentially greater impact for South Africa and its economy could come from changes to international trade agreements. Because the EU is South Africa’s most significant trading partner.

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You won't have to look far to see news that Britain's proposed exit from the European Union, or Brexit, has left Prime Minister Theresa May hanging by a thread, says Mica Townsend, business development manager at financial services provider, 10X Investments.

"The resignation this week of Brexit Secretary David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson rattled the markets, which were already very unsettled as the US and China continued to trade blows in their fast-developing trade war," said Townsend.

Brexit is the impending withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.

May narrowly escaped defeat on her Brexit proposals in Parliament Monday, Bloomberg reported. Moreover, a growing number of lawmakers are discussing a potential second referendum on Brexit, after 51.9% of the participating UK electorate voted to leave the EU in the initial event in June 2016. The turnout was 72.2%.

If the UK fails to get a Brexit deal with the EU and instead trades with it under World Trade Organisation rules, that potentially presents a "financial stability event" for both Britain and the bloc, BOE Governor Mark Carney told lawmakers on Tuesday, as reported by Bloomberg.

"Although it may be confusing to some that Brexit is even a point of interest in South Africa, it is true that the outcome of the heated debates currently under way in Europe could have a knock-on effect on South Africa," said Townsend.

"Many South African companies have their European headquarters in the UK," she said, "and they use these as a base to serve the rest of Europe. Depending on which way the Brexit needle swings these companies may be forced to set up a base somewhere else to continue to do business in Europe."

This could create the risk of significant additional cost to companies resulting from a move of this sort, as well as major impacts from a human resources perspective.

A potentially greater impact for South Africa and its economy could come from changes to international trade agreements. The EU is South Africa's most significant trading partner, with the UK being a big part of this.

"The UK is a large importer of South African goods, such as wine, fruits and precious metals. If the UK were to leave the EU, trade agreements would have to be renegotiated with no guarantee of an equally favourable outcome," Townsend said.

She also pointed out that, if growth in the UK were to remain sluggish after Brexit, demand for imported goods would likely be hit, with a negative knock-on effect for the South African economy, as exporters would find their markets dwindling.

On an individual level, many South Africans have UK passports via their ancestry. Up until now this has given them the automatic right to live and work in the EU, which looks unlikely in the future.

But, as much as Brexit may be a real concern for some South African companies and individuals, it is important to remember that this is just another in a long line of threats to the stability of the world economy. There will always be volatile political events, the threat of wars and so on, and there is just no way of knowing how things will pan out.

Townsend said South African savers and investors would be ill-advised to change their long-term plans to respond to short-term events.

"As long as your portfolio has been constructed with your long-term goals in mind and your investment strategy has been aligned to give you the best chance of achieving this there is no need to be reactive to events.

"Just as was the case with the global financial crisis of 2008, 10X Investments will not change our simple, steady, low cost investment strategy in light of the latest developments - and we believe that investors should follow the same approach."
Read: How Brexit will affect South Africans looking to emigrate to the UK and the rest of Europe

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Brexit is warming up again: here's how it affects South Africa

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You won't have to look far to see news that Britain's proposed exit from the European Union, or Brexit, has left Prime Minister Theresa May hanging by a thread, says Mica Townsend, business development manager at financial services provider, 10X Investments.

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UK ISN’T GRANTING AMNESTY TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE COUNTRY FOR 10 YEARS

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UK ISN’T GRANTING AMNESTY TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE COUNTRY FOR 10 YEARS

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Immigration is something that happens in every country, whether it is to find better chances in other countries, have a better work or any other reasons, but when it comes to illegal immigration, it is different since every single government has different rules or conditions on visas.

In January, a petition was started on the official UK Government and Parliament’s petition website got 46,000 signatures, asking the government to grant amnesty to illegal immigrants who have lived in the UK for 10 years or more, but less than 20 years. The government is forced to answer to any petition that gets more than 10,000 signatures, but it refused to grant them the amnesty to those immigrants.

“There are no plans to grant an amnesty to illegal migrants. Our immigration policies are based on principles of fairness to legal migrants and not rewarding those who don’t abide by the Rules”, says the Government.

There’s a 20-year rule, that states that a person doesn’t have to have lived in the UK lawfully or legally, but “continuously” to qualify for leave to remain, 30month renewable leave (this rule doesn’t apply to people in prison). Months later, a rumor about the government allowing the illegal migrants to become citizens came out, but the Government shut the rumors down, explaining the rules once again.

It’s important to comprehend that the illegal migrants went there, to the UK, for personal reasons, it brings problems between the two governments (English and Ghanaian one). But what all people have, is human rights. We all are humans, and we all are immigrants.

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UK isn't granting amnesty to illegal immigrants who have been in the country for 10 years

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In the last one month or so, the Law Firm where I...

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£29.2M WORTH OF CANNABIS HEADING TO UK INTERCEPTED AT TEMA PORT

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£29.2M WORTH OF CANNABIS HEADING TO UK INTERCEPTED AT TEMA PORT

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Drug trafficking is worth millions of dollars and important, any quantity that exceeds the average of consumption (depending on the country, and if it’s legal or not) but when it’s worth £29.2M is something huge for the police. The Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) confiscated 5821 compressed slabs of cannabis in an operation at the Tema port, in Ghana.

This is the biggest narcotics busts in the history of the country, and didn’t arrive to the UK, thanks for the actions of the NACOB. They were concealed in boxes of yam. The police haven’t really found the authors of this, but two suspects are under arrest already; it’s mentioned that there’s a third suspect, but he hasn’t been identified yet.

When the yams were confiscated, they were in storage for costums checks, ready to be exported. Osae Akotua was the one who reported the existence of these cannabis yams, but he didn’t know who were the owners of these packages. Till now, the precedence of these packages is unknown.

This is something relevant for the country because it’s the biggest narcotic bust in history of Ghana. It makes it a case of huge importance, for both governments.

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£29.2m worth of cannabis heading to UK intercepted at Tema port

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The Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) has intercepted 5,851 compressed slabs of cannabis...

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MORE GHANIAN KIDS LOSING LIVES TO KNIFE CRIMES IN THE UK

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MORE GHANIAN KIDS LOSING LIVES TO KNIFE CRIMES IN THE UK

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Ghanaians emigrate to the UK every year, including men, women, children and elder people. Crime occurs every single day, yet this particular situation is worrying, since it affects a young generation. According to many reports, around 120 Ghanaians between the ages of 14 and 22 were stabbed to death in London last year.
Knife and gun crime victims aren’t bizarre to this community, but when it comes to teenagers and young adults, it turns to be worrying to the entire country.
The non-governmental association Ghana Baako is working on solving these crimes, since it affects the Ghanaian community only, with deadly consequences. The leader, Kwaky Appiah claims that during January to March, 20 teenagers have been fatally stabbed in London. He refers to these crimes as “unnecessary”.
“We are also working with the Met Police, community and youth groups, health and education services and local and national government on preventing young people getting dragged into the world of violent crimes”, says Appiah.
Could this be racial related crimes? It’s not sure yet, but it’s absolutely worrying because Ghanaian teenagers are afraid of going out and being stabbed to death, the Ghanaian community in London deserves answers to these crimes, and the authors need to be punished for their heartless crimes.

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More Ghanaian kids losing lives to knife crimes in UK

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The spate of Ghanaian involvement in knife-violence in the United Kingdom either...

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The Odwira Festival is celebrated by the chiefs and people of Akuapem in the Eastern Region of Ghana. They are mostly Akans (largest ethnic group in Ghana). Odwira means, in Akan, “Purification”.

Before the celebration there is a period of forty days for meditation and rest. This period is known as"Adaabutuw". During this period the noisy activities are prohibited because peace and calm is expected to prevail and also because the ancestors have to rest. Those who participate in the festival must remain in a state of meditation because that allows them to prepare themselves spiritually.

The festival lasts a week and each day special rituals are held.

•        The first day is reserved to clear the path that leads to the royal mausoleum so that the ancestors travel home safely.

•        The second day is allowed to eat again new yam, which is prohibited before the festival. Also the sacred symbol of the royal mausoleum is obtained and people is allowed to sing and dance.

•        On the third day the relatives who died are remembered.

•        The fourth day is a holiday and at night the Black Stools (seats of the ancestors) are taken to the stream for ceremonial cleaning.

•        On Friday, the festival is crowned with a great durbar (ceremony) of heads.

•        Nothing special happens on Friday and Saturday. Only recreational activities are done.

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Odwira is a Festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of Akuapem in the Eastern Region (Apue Mantam) of the country. They are mostly Akans.The Purpose and History is an Akan word which means purification. The festival is therefore a pe

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Many South African people do not agree with the term "rainbow nation" because there is discrimination and a great cultural division.

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Researching about South Africa, I found in a lot of pages that this country is called the “rainbow nation”. At first I imagined something related with the LGBTQ+ community but instantly that idea become illogic, and then I thought that maybe this nickname is because of the colors of the awesome nature in South Africa, but once again, I was wrong.

South Africa is called the "rainbow nation" thanks to its diversity of cultures. To get an idea of ​​the magnitude of this diversity, we must know that South Africa has 11 official languages ​​and 8 other recognized languages.

How does a country have so much cultural diversity? Well, at the beginning, in South Africa there were only two villages, the KhoiKhoi and San, but due to migration it was that this country was culturally enriched. First arrived the Bantu peoples from the north in Africa and then the Europeans settlers from the south.

When the Bantu migrants arrived they were not a single culture, but are divided into several. Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Ndebele, Shangaan and Venda are some of them, and each of these cultures came with different lifestyles. The European settlers were also from different cultures, mainly Dutch and, also each group brought with them their different customs.

Over time, the Afrikaans language of Dutch influence was created, which is the most spoken language in the country. Although the great variety of cultures continues, the new generations have moved away from their African roots and prefer to get closer to a western lifestyle.

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South Africa's culture is one of the most diverse in the world and has given rise to the term "Rainbow Nation".

With 11 official languages and 8 other recognised languages, the rich culture of each of these groups brings its own vibrancy to our diversity.

How did we get so many different cultures in one country?

The original aboriginal peoples living here were the KhoiKhoi and San. They were joined by two main migrations - that of the Bantu peoples from the north in Africa and the colonisation by the Europeans from the south, all bringing their own cultures, skills, arts and farming methods with them.

KhoiKhoi and San culture in South Africa

The indigenous KhoiKhoi and San were the early artists of South Africa as can be seen in the wonderful rock art across the country. The San, known as "Bushmen" were extraordinary hunters and trackers, and their tracking skills are still invaluable in the fight against poachers.

Today, their language is under threat, as is their nomadic way of life in the desert regions of the country. Organisations are at work to try and preserve this special culture with projects like bringing the language back into the school curriculum.

The Bantu migrants were not all of the same culture; there were the Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Ndebele, Shangaan and Venda to name a few, each with their own colourful and interesting way of life. It is a popular tourist attraction to see these traditional cultures with their interesting homes, dress, wonderful beadwork, pottery, arts & crafts and cultural events in the rural areas.

Zulu culture in South Africa

The Zulu traditional culture was well known for the ferocity of its shield bearing warriors, especially under Shaka; for its beadwork and basketry and the beehive grass huts that pepper the KwaZulu-Natal hills.

Zulu beliefs are based on the presence of ancestral spirits, which often appear in dreams, and a supreme being who is seldom involved in the affairs of mortals. Magic is used and many cases of illness or bad luck are considered to be caused by an evil spirit. A diviner will communicate with the spirits or use natural herbs and prayers to get rid of the problem.

Xhosa culture in South Africa

The Xhosa culture is well known for the complex dress code that indicates a person's social standing. How senior they are, if they are married or single, if they are the new wife or have had a baby - all shown in the headdress and dress of the wearer. A combination of a long skirt with no slit in front, together with a marriage bib and two beaded aprons means the wearer is a widow. The more elaborate the hat, the more senior the wearer. Only young girls may go around bare-breasted. The pipe smoking of Xhosa women is also well known and a huge variety of beaded pipes abound. Traditionalists were described as 'Red' because of their practice of daubing (ukuqaba) red clay on their faces and bodies. Women and men also use cosmetic white clay on their faces.

The Xhosas have a strong oral tradition with many stories of ancestral heroes. Ancestor worship rituals as well as the initiation ceremony for young men are still practised, even though many young men die or are mutilated by the circumcision.

Stick fighting is a common pastime for men, whose day time job is looking after the cattle. Women tend the crops, and do much of the other work around the home.

It was Xhosa leaders who initiated the fight against apartheid and founded the ANC. Among these were two of our modern day heroes, Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu.

Ndebele culture in South Africa

The Ndebele culture is renowned for the skill of the women who decorate their homes in vibrant geometric designs. Skills are passed from mother to daughter and the shapes used are often inspired by their intricately fashioned beadwork. Ndebele woman wear neck rings and traditional blankets of striking colours.

Sotho culture in South Africa and Lesotho

The Sotho groups of the South Sotho, Pedi and Tswana have some major cultural differences from the Nguni group (Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele and Swazi), especially with respect to how they organise their villages and their marriages. The Sotho peoples tend to organise their homes into villages, rather than scattered settlements. In Nguni society, marriages to kin is frowned on while the Sotho will seek brides from kin, notably cousins on the maternal side.

The Nguni are grouped in clans, while totems, or praise-names taken from animals, distinguish the Sotho-speakers.

Sotho villages were also organized into age-sets, or groups of men or women who were close in age. Each age-set had specific responsibilities e.g. men organized for warfare and herding. An entire age-set generally graduated from one task to the next, and the village often celebrated this change with a series of rituals and, in some cases, an initiation ceremony. In the past initiations into adulthood were elaborate ceremonies lasting a few months, in which girls and boys were taken separately to the bush in the winter. The boys were circumcised. Increasingly, funerals have become the most elaborate life-cycle rituals.

The South Sotho people of Lesotho (baSuto) are identified with the brightly colored blankets that they often wear instead of coats. These blankets have designs picturing everything from airplanes to crowns to geometric patterns. The blankets are store-bought-there is no tradition of making them locally.

Traditions of folk art include beadwork, sewing, pottery making, house decoration, and weaving. Functional items such as sleeping mats, baskets, and beer strainers continue to be woven by hand from grass materials. Folk craft traditions have been revived and modified in response to the tourist trade.

The Shangaan culture in South Africa

The Shangaan people are located mainly in the area of the Kruger Park in Mpumalanga. Their culture is of mixed ancestry and was brought about due to the military actions of Soshangane, one of Shaka's generals who fell into disfavour. To escape Shaka, Soshangane fled north, through Swaziland, finally settling in Mozambique. His men found wives among the locals - among them Tsongas - and thus the Shangaan people were established.

Soshangane imposed the strict Zulu military system and tribal wear on Shangaan traditions, but retained the beautiful Tsonga homesteads that include round huts with patterned thatch roofs. He also incorporated their love of music that features a variety of ingenious stringed, wind and percussion instruments.

The Shangaan people, through Tsonga influence, are one of the few ethnic groups in South Africa to practice fishing and include fish in their diet. Because of the wealth of game in the area they also enjoy venison and crocodile, which they bake in a delicious groundnut (peanut) sauce.

The most unusual aspect of their diet, however, is their love of the mopani worm found in the mopani forests of the Lowveld. These are either dried or pan fried in butter, which is an experience no adventurous traveller should miss.

An important figure in traditional Shangaan culture, as with all the Nguni peoples of south eastern Africa, is the Sangoma, a healer and spiritual guide. The Sangoma's medicine gourd, has become a symbol of the traditional cultural heritage of the Shangaan.

The Venda culture in South Africa

The Soutpansberg Mountains of the Limpopo Province in South Africa is the home of the Venda people, the smallest of the South Africa cultures.

The Venda culture is built on a vibrant mythical belief system, and water is an import theme, believing lakes and rivers to be sacred, and that rains are controlled by the Python God. One of the most sacred sites of the Venda is Lake Fundudzi where annual rites are held. This is where the famous Domba Python Dance is held and young maidens, as the final stage of their initiation into womanhood, line up in single file and dance in long winding lines, like a snake. The Domba is also important to secure good rains for the following season.

The Sangoma or traditional healer is believed to have access to the spirits and seeks guidance from the ancestors. Many Venda consult a Sangoma if they became ill, who would diagnose the trouble in the spirit world which might be alleviated by a particular course of action and usually prescribes a course of herbs.

Beliefs in the spirit world influence the Venda art - their woodcarvings, pottery and the decoration of their buildings. Drums are central in the culture and there are legends and symbols linked to them.

In rural areas cattle mean wealth, and the lifestyle revolves around agriculture. Male and female roles are clearly defined, with the men responsible for livestock, ploughing and the building of huts, while the women do most of the harvesting as well as all the domestic duties. Polygamy is still common, and due to the prosperity of the farmland, fewer men leave the area to work in the mines than is the case with many other tribes. As a result, traditional life has changed little over the years.

The culture brought to South Africa by the European settlers

The European settlers were also from different cultures of which the Dutch were the most influential. They were joined by the French Huguenots, British and German Settlers, each bringing their own flavour to the mix.

Dutch became the official European language, and gradually transformed into the local form, called Afrikaans. All school pupils were taught Afrikaans as their first or second language and it is the most spoken language in South Africa. Our legal system is based on Roman Dutch law and much of the traditional architecture in South Africa is based on "Cape Dutch" with its iconic grand, ornately rounded gables, thatch roof, white walls and green shutters. Afrikaans music is extremely popular and many of our famous artists come from this culture.

The Dutch culture was transported into the Free State and Gauteng with the Great Trek when the Dutch speaking farmers in the Western Cape moved en-mass to escape British Rule in the mid 19th century. Our recent political history was determined by Afrikaners who were in government from 1948 to the 1994 multi-racial elections.

The French Huguenots religious refugees came to the Cape around 1688 and brought with them the art of wine making. They settled in what is now termed the Cape Winelands and transformed the area into a scenic vista of vines. Today South Africa is recognised as a top wine producer thanks to the Huguenots. Franschoek is at the heart of the French culture, and this interesting town, steeped in history, celebrates Bastille Day every year.

Later British settlers ushered in the Victorian culture of the day as can be seen in the buildings in Cape Town, Kimberley and Johannesburg. Herbert Baker, among the country's most influential architects, designed the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

Many schools were run on the British Public School system and rugby became our national sport.

The British were chiefly responsible for the development of our mining industry with early players like Cecil John Rhodes and Barney Barnato.

The London Missionary Society was extremely active in South Africa, and had an enormous influence in converting much of the non-Christian population. Mission schools were built in rural areas which played an enormous role in spreading educating.

German and British settlers were brought into the Eastern Cape to help create a buffer against the Xhosa and to start up farming. Port Elizabeth has museums and monuments dedicated to the 1820 settler history.

Indian, Chinese and Cape Malay culture in South Africa

As South Africa developed, more labour was required and Indian and Chinese indentured labourers were brought in, as were slaves from Madagascar, East Africa and the East Indies.

The Indian labourers were used in the sugar industry in Natal and today, KwaZulu-Natal is still home to the largest Indian population. Durban is where one can best experience this culture at the Indian Market, where much pleasure can be enjoyed browsing the foods and shops. In Johannesburg a large enclave of Indians are in the Fordsburg area, close to Johannesburg city centre. The Oriental Plaza is packed with fabrics, clothes and a myriad of products. After shopping, enjoy traditional food at the many restaurants in the area.

Indian South Africans still preserve their cultural heritage, languages and religious beliefs, being Christian, Hindu or Muslim and speaking English, with Indian languages like Hindi, Telugu, Tamil or Gujarati being spoken less frequently as second languages.

Another great cultural experience is to visit Chinatown in Derrick Avenue, Cyrildene, Johannesburg. If you are a foodie, you will find all manner of ingredients for the pot, or just enjoy the great food right there.

The slaves that were brought into the Cape have retained much of their Moslem culture and today are the foundation of the artisan trades in Cape Town.

Known as "Cape Malays", their brightly coloured homes in the Bo Kaap District of Cape Town are eye catching.

Traditional foods such as Breyani and Bobotie have become SA favourites. The Cape Carnival at New Year is a celebration of this culture.

Culture in South Africa today

Today, many of the younger generation from all cultures have moved to the city where they lead a Westernised lifestyle and speak either English or Afrikaans in addition to their home language. Many live in the "Township" areas where township tours are a must for visitors.

Over time, the townships developed a unique fusion of culture which has its expression in the music, art and food. The very interesting art forms, using everything from plastic strips to bicycle spokes will keep you enthralled. Local music is vibrant and a visit to a shebeen, the local pub, is always a hit.

Not only does one get to understand the township way of life today, which still includes those living in poverty, but one can also experience the rich history of the years of oppression and apartheid. A tour of Soweto, home of Nelson Mandela, is one of the most popular attractions in South Africa.

South Africa has many world-renowned artists from every culture and galleries are plentiful across the country. The music industry is flourishing and film making is also enjoying its first Oscar awards. The are many authors, wildlife photographers and film makers, actors and producers, all flourishing in the freedom of our Rainbow Nation.

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With 11 official languages and 8 other recognised languages, the rich culture of each of these groups brings its own vibrancy to our diversity. How did we get so many different cultures in one country? The original aboriginal peoples living here were the KhoiKhoi and San.

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Opposition party of Ghana withdrew from the elections in a district of Accra after being shot several of its members

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Opposition party of Ghana withdrew from the elections in a district of Accra after being shot several of its members

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This article talks about how one of the parties is going to retire. The Ghanian opposition party National Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced in the capital Accra, that they are retiring due violence many members have suffered (shootings) during the campaign. The president of the party Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo was the one who announced this right after the attack against four of the members.

Members of this party have been living with fear ever since the attacks started happening, which intimidate them. The government New Patriotic Pary (NPP) is the favorite so far, but ever since the attacks, they have caused a headache to the NDC, making their party a chaos.

This article is important because it shows how corrupt government things can be. The members of the party shouldn’t feel fear, neither the people voting for whoever they want as presidents, this only makes them fear for their lives and not want to participate in something that they have the right to participate in.

The last president Nana Akufo-Addo promised that there would be jobs for everybody, fight against poverty and economic growth. This only leaves us expecting what’s going to happen in the future with all the other parties.

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Publicado 31/01/2019 21:13:39 CET

MADRID, 31 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

El partido opositor ghanés Congreso Democrático Nacional (NDC) ha anunciado este jueves su decisión de retirarse de las elecciones anticipadas en el distrito de Ayawaso West Wuogon, en la capital, Accra, después de que varios de sus miembros hayan sido tiroteados durante la campaña.

El presidente de la formación, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, ha sido el encargado de hacer el anuncio tras el ataque, en el que cuatro miembros del partido han sido tiroteados en un centro de votación, tal y como ha recogido el diario local 'Daily Graphic'.

"Es una grave intimidación (...) Estas elecciones anticipadas se han convertido en una zona de guerra", ha dicho Ofosu-Ampofo, según las informaciones recogidas por la agencia alemana de noticias DPA.

El gubernamental Nuevo Partido Patriótico (NPP) parte como favorito en estas elecciones. La formación ha acusado a la cúpula del NDC de fomentar un "caos imaginario" y ha pedido su dimisión.

"Dañan la integridad de la comisión electoral, de las personas que están votando, y dejan abandonada a su gente de manera cobarde y negligente", ha dicho el portavoz del NPP, Yaw Buaben Asamoah, según el ghanés 'The Graphic'.

Nana Akufo-Addo ganó con un claro margen las elecciones presidenciales de diciembre de 2016, en la que era su tercera intentona electoral para alcanzar el máximo cargo político del país. En su programa, prometió empleo, lucha contra la pobreza, facilidades para las empresas y crecimiento económico.

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Partido opositor de Ghana se retira de las elecciones en un distrito de Accra tras ser tiroteados varios de sus miembros

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Publicado 31/01/2019 21:13:39 CET MADRID, 31 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) - El partido opositor ghanés Congreso Democrático Nacional (NDC) ha anunciado este jueves su decisión de retirarse de las elecciones anticipadas en el distrito de Ayawaso West Wuogon, en la capital, Accra, después de que varios de sus miembros hayan sido tiroteados durante la campaña.

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South Africa's Land Expropriation Without Compensation Explained

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South Africa's Land Expropriation Without Compensation Explained

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South Africa's Land Expropriation Without Compensation Explained

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South Africa advances in its racial utopia: it will confiscate the land of the whites

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South Africa advances in its racial utopia: it will confiscate the land of the whites

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This article talks about the change the ruling party in South Africa, the African National Congress (ANC) wants to implement: expropriate lands without compensation, in order to have a fair property system. The president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, says that this will be implemented though the parliamentary process, since there’s a lot of unfairness when it comes about lands.

After 24 years of multiracial democracy, in South Africa, the white minority is the one who has more lands, with a 72% of them; Indians with a 15% and the rest of the black population only has the 4% ever since they lived without rights. South Africans want justice and equality when it comes to lands, because their lands were taken away from them when they lived as slaves.

The white minority is said to be living in fear because they are scared to be assaulted by the other population. Violence has increased ever since this was announced, police officers have been working on this; but to make this real, the government needs to have the opposition votes and reach two-thirds to finally have the parliament to accept what its intended to happen.

This article is important because it shows the way people live in their own country, how their country could be fully theirs again. When they were treated as slaves, the conquers stayed there for generations, and it makes sense why the white minority owns most of the lands there, but those aren’t their original lands. Black population deserve to have what was theirs in the beginning.

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El presidente de Sudráfrica, Cyril Ramaphosa | EFE

El partido gobernante en Sudáfrica, el Congreso Nacional Africano (CNA), impulsará un cambio en la Constitución para hacerla "más explícita" sobre la posibilidad de expropiar tierras sin compensación, para un sistema de propiedad más equitativo, anunció el presidente del país, Cyril Ramaphosa. El CNA propondrá, a través del debido "proceso parlamentario", una enmienda de la Constitución que señale "más claramente las condiciones bajo las que la expropiación de tierra sin compensación puede ser efectuada", reveló el mandatario anoche en un mensaje televisado.

Tras más de 24 años de democracia multirracial, en Sudáfrica la minoría blanca posee el 72 % de la tierra; los mestizos e indios, un 15 %, y la mayoría negra que vivió sin derechos durante décadas solo tiene un 4 %, según cifras oficiales. Ramaphosa recordó que una "lectura apropiada de la Constitución" actual y de su "cláusula de la propiedad" ya permite al Estado ejecutar esta medida si está justificada por el interés social.

Sin embargo, tras meses de audiencias públicas sobre el tema, el presidente explicó que su partido considera que está "claro que la gente quiere que la Constitución sea más explícita". El CNA, que gobierna en Sudáfrica desde las primeras elecciones democráticas, en 1994, acordó la medida ayer en asamblea. "La asamblea reafirmó la posición de que un programa de reforma de tierras comprensivo que permita acceso equitativo desbloqueará el crecimiento económico al llevar más suelo a ser utilizado plenamente y a permitir la participación productiva en la economía de millones más de sudafricanos", señaló Ramaphosa.

El tema, sobre todo la expropiación sin compensación, es fuente de una gran tensión social en el país. Esta ha aumentado especialmente en los últimos meses en forma de ocupaciones por la fuerza, por un lado, y quejas de los propietarios blancos -que aseguran vivir con miedo a ser atacados-, por otro. A ello hay que sumar los posibles efectos adversos de las expropiaciones sin compensación para la economía sudafricana en general, que atraviesa un momento de debilidad especialmente en áreas como el desempleo, del 27,2 %, según los últimos datos.

El CNA tiene mayoría parlamentaria pero para enmendar la Constitución necesitaría apoyarse en los votos de la oposición, en concreto de la formación de extrema izquierda Luchadores por la Libertad Económica (EFF), hasta alcanzar los dos tercios. Ya con ese apoyo, el pasado febrero se había puesto en marcha un comité parlamentario de Revisión Constitucional para estudiar la reforma de las cláusulas sobre la propiedad de la tierra.

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Sudáfrica avanza en su utopía racial: confiscará la tierra de los blancos

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El partido gobernante en Sudáfrica, el Congreso Nacional Africano (CNA), impulsará un cambio en la Constitución para hacerla "más explícita" sobre la posibilidad de expropiar tierras sin compensación, para un sistema de propiedad más equitativo, anunció el presidente del país, Cyril Ramaphosa.

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It is generically called Bushmen - or, also, San, basarawa, Sho or !Kung - to several African tribes, traditionally hunter-gatherers, who speak some of the north-western languages of the Joisans, characterized by incorporating sounds of clicks.
As of January 2013, only three speakers of the Nǀuu dialect and two of the ǁʼAu dialect remain.

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Trying to save South Africa's first language

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Trying to save South Africa's first language

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The nǀu is one of the three dialects of the nǁng language, which is the only surviving language of the  ǃkwi branch of the tuu languages

The dialect is the subject of a preservation campaign. It is taught in schools by the elderly people mastering it and its vocabulary is collected

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At 84, Ms Esau is one of the last three fluent speakers of N|uu, one of the languages spoken by South Africa's San community, also known as Bushmen.

N|uu is considered the original language of southern Africa.

With no other fluent speakers in the world apart from this family, the language is recognised by the UN as "critically endangered".

"When I was a child, I only spoke N|uu and I heard a lot of people speaking the language. Those were good times, we loved our language but that has changed," says Ms Esau in Upington, a town in the Northern Cape Province.

For centuries, the San roamed this region freely, gathering plants and hunting animals to feed their families.

But today the traditional practices of the San have all but died out and their descendants tell me that language is one of the only things left that connects them to their history.

Inside a small wooden hut, she teaches the 112 sounds including 45 distinct clicks of N|uu with the local children.

"I'm teaching the language because I don't want it to become extinct when we die," Ms Esau says.

"I want to pass on as much of it as I can but I am very aware that we don't have a lot of time."

Ms Esau has been running the school in her home for about 10 years.

The people in this community, including Ms Esau now mainly speak Afrikaans, which is related to the language spoken by the Dutch settlers who arrived in South Africa in the 17th Century.

"We would get beaten up by the white man if we were caught speaking our language," she tells me.

"Because of our history, people today do not want to speak the language any more, there is so much pain around it.

"We abandoned the N|uu language and learned to speak Afrikaans, although we are not white people - that has affected our identity," she adds.

Ms Esau's two sisters Hanna Koper and Griet Seekoei - both over 90 - are listening intently as she speaks with bitter fondness of their childhood.

They don't speak much but nod in agreement as she speaks.

Ouma Geelmeid, as she is affectionately known, says she is hoping to remove the shame around speaking N|uu today.

During lessons, with a stick in her hand, Ms Esau points out the N|uu names for body parts on the white board as the students read in chorus.

Like many other African languages, this language had been passed down orally over generations - but this is now threatening its survival.

Until recent years there was no record of it as a written language.

Ms Esau worked with linguists, Professors Sheena Shah from the School of Oriental and African Studies (Soas) in London and Matthias Brezinger of the Centre for African Language Diversity in Cape Town to create a N|uu alphabet and basic rules of grammar for teaching purposes.

"From the work we did with Ouma Geelmeid's community, we learned that these communities view language as an important marker of their identity." says Ms Shah.

Experts say personal identity is becoming increasingly important in a world that is embracing globalisation.

Language is about more than simply an idea to communicate with one another, it is also tied in with culture and a way of life for a community, the experts tell me.

"When you look at the African languages, you learn that they help communicate different perspectives on life, relationships, spirituality, the earth, health, humanity," says Mr Brezinger.

"There is a wealth of knowledge on survival that has been passed down through the years in indigenous communities that the Western world knows very little about and when these languages die, that unique knowledge is also lost," he continues.

Back in the classroom, there are about 20 children, most of them under 10 years old and a few teenagers.

Mary-Ann Prins, 16, is Ms Esau's best student and hopes to one day teach this class.

"I love learning this language. It makes me feel like I belong, like I am connected to my great-grandparents. I'm told that they used to speak it and today I can be a part of that too," she says with a broad smile.

No place to belong

N|uu is not the only language at risk of disappearing in South Africa.

Three hours away, in the town of Springbok, Nama speakers have been lobbying the government to have their language made an official language.

Despite being historically widely spoken in South Africa, Nama is not recognised as one of the country's 11 official languages.

"It's very sad that our children cannot speak Nama. It breaks my heart that our children will never be able to communicate with their elders in their own language," says Maria Damara, 95, one of the only Nama speakers here.

"What future will they have, what will happen to our culture?"

South Africa's top six mother-tongue languages:

South Africa has 11 official languages altogether

English is the most commonly spoken language used officially and in business

Community leader Wiela Beker, 56, agrees:

"If you don't have language, you don't have nothing. I'm talking in English to you now but I am not English. I want to speak Nama because that's what and who I am.

"Unless we do something about it, our culture is going to die. We are fighting for our culture when we fight for our language," he says.

But without a shift in language policy and government intervention, this community say they are worried that it won't be long until their language finds itself in the same boat as N|uu - on the verge of extinction.

And so for these communities the fight is for a shared identity, a sense of belonging - and therefore a legacy for future generations.

Read more from Pumza on African cultures:

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Trying to save South Africa's first language

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At 84, Ms Esau is one of the last three fluent speakers of N|uu, one of the languages spoken by South Africa's San community, also known as Bushmen. N|uu is considered the original language of southern Africa. With no other fluent speakers in the world apart from this family, the language is recognised by the UN as "critically endangered".

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South Africa is the country with the most official languages in the world, recognizes since 1994, eleven languages as official languages, although the two main ones are of European origin: English used as a communication vehicle between all South Africans and Afrikaans derived from Dutch. The other official languages are Ndebele, Sesotho (southern sotho), Northern sotho, Tswana, Swazi, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu.

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UNBELIEVABLE ENGLISH WORDS THAT ARE SPOKEN ONLY GHANA

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Tiwi is a dialect of the Akan language spoken in southern and central Ghana by several million people, mainly of the Akan tribe, the biggest of the about 17 major tribes in Ghana and forms some 70% of the Ghanaian population as a first and second language

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Learning Twi (Language) Lesson THREE | #Ghana #Akan

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On Language and Development in Africa:
The Case of Ghana

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On Language and Development in Africa:
The Case of Ghana

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This article is from students of African development, and they claim that current lingüistic research can't give us a picture of the language situation in Africa, not even a list of the languages that are spoken, in wich areas they're spoken or how many speakers there are, but they focus in the situation in Ghana, where there are some advances.
Ghana´s indegenous langauges can be categorized into ten major language groups, but they don't match the ten regions of the country.
Those groups are: The Akan group, The Mabia group , The Gbe group, The Ga-Dangbe group, The Gurma group, The Guang group, The Nzema group, The Grusi group, The Buem group and The Nafaanra group, but there are also west african languages and froeing languages, such as english (wich is the lingua franca)