“What’s Going On” Tallies Notable News Headlines From Across The Continent — The Good, The Bad, And The Horrible — As A Way Of Ensuring That We All Become A More Sagacious African Generation. With This Column, We’re Hoping To Disseminate The Latest Happenings In Our Socio-Political Climate From Across The Continent, Whilst Starting A Conversation About What’s Important For Us To All Discuss. From Political Affairs To Socio-Economic Issues, ‘What’s Going On’ Will Discuss Just That.

GHANA TO EASE UP ITS FAMILY VALUE BILL

For the past week, United States Vice President Kamala Harris has been on a three-nation visit to Africa. Touring Tanzania, Zambia, and finally closing off with Ghana, Kamala Harris insisted on the importance of investing in African ingenuity and creativity to enable its development. Meeting with Ghana’s president Nana Akufo-Addo, the two held a press conference last week on Monday where the Ghanaian president publicised the Anti-LGBTQ law framed under the guise of family values would be revised. 

For the past few years, the marginalised community has been undergoing human injustice. Early on in 2021, the first LGBTQ support centre was shut down after religious leaders and government leaders blamed the West terming it as a way to recruit young Africans. Thus the introduction of the proposed Family Values Bill, which sought to introduce some of the harshest anti-LGBTQ laws on the African continent. 

Three years later Nana Akufo-Addo reveals that the country is ready to put the private bill under revision following the recent visit of Kamala Harris. Discussing during a press conference about the eligibility of the bill, Nana Akufo-Addo said that the bill was not under his regime and it was under discussion with the parliament. Adding on to that, he also affirmed that the parliament will consider human rights when discussing the bill. 

LAGOS TEACHERS CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER

Staff at Chrisland High School have been charged with manslaughter after a pupil died. The 12-year-old girl identified as Whitney Adeniran died in February as a result of asphyxiation and electrocution during the school’s inter-house sports activities at Agege Stadium. However, the school management, in a statement released after her death, said she slumped in public view and not under any hidden circumstances.

In 2022, a video depicting improper acts among some students of the school, who went on a trip to Dubai went viral. The alleged scandal happened when Chrisland School was in Dubai in March 2022 to take part in the World School Games, a four-day annual competition with schools from all over the world. The development came less than four years after a teacher in the school, Adegboyega Adenekan, was convicted and sentenced to 60 years jail term for raping a two-year-old female pupil.

Since the death of Whitney, the school has been closed down to enable investigations to take place.

KENYA DEMONSTRATIONS HELD ON PAUSE

Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga decided Sunday to call off nationwide protests following an appeal from President William Ruto. “In view of the foregoing, we stand down our demonstrations for Monday, April 3, 2023,” Odinga said. “In accepting the call for dialogue, we ask that all arrests and prosecutions related to our demonstrations be stopped with immediate effect.” Odinga said that as the opposition, they agree that a balanced parliamentary process for dialogue co-chaired by both sides and backed by experts from outside should proceed.

He added that the committee should be composed with immediate effect with strict deadlines for resolving the crises facing the country. “Should there be no meaningful engagement or response from Ruto to our counter-offer, we will resort to resuming our demonstrations after one week,” Odinga warned. Ruto in a televised address to the nation on Sunday had asked the opposition to call off the protests, noting that recent political demonstrations have resulted in grave acts of lawlessness, widespread violence, looting and the invasion of private property, causing loss of lives, injuries, property damage and denting the nation’s image.

“In these circumstances, and in view of the recent events that led to loss of lives and destruction of property, I urge Hon. Raila Odinga to call off any further demonstrations,” he pleaded. He said the country’s economy had been hard hit, with all his measures to attract investors and create opportunities for the youth being derailed by acts of violence, chaos and anarchy.

President Ruto said he is willing to engage with Kenyans from all walks of life, including elected and appointed leaders from across the political divide and the religious fraternity, to make the country better and more prosperous based on the rule of law and the Constitution. The protests, aimed at forcing Ruto’s government to reduce the cost of living, have been ongoing for weeks and resulted in three deaths, including that of a police officer, and dozens of arrests.