Mali Crisis: Osinbajo Attends ECOWAS Summit in Ghana

 

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has departed Nigeria for Ghana to attend the Extraordinary Summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

 

Osinbajo, who is representing President Muhammadu Buhari, at the summit will join other leaders in the sub-region to discuss the political crisis in Mali and the security situation in the sub-region at large.

 

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande.

 

According to the statement, the Vice President will also meet with representatives of the Nigerian community in Ghana to discuss issues bothering on their wellbeing in the West African country.

 

Accompanying the Vice President is the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb Zubairu Dada.

 

He is expected back in Abuja today at the end of his engagements in Ghana.

 

Following the coup that broke out in Mali on August 18, ECOWAS, the African Union, the United Nations and the United States have condemned the action.

 

The regional bloc suspended the country pledged a range of retaliatory actions, including financial sanctions.

 

Similarly, ECOWAS delegation headed by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, arrived in the Malian capital, Bamako on August 20 to push for a speedy return to civilian rule after a military coup in the troubled nation.

 

The delegation met with the members of the new junta as well as ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

 

Rebel soldiers seized Keita and other leaders after a mutiny dealing another deep blow to a country already struggling with a brutal Islamist insurgency and widespread public discontent over its government.

 

Mali’s neighbours have called for Keita to be reinstated, saying the purpose of the delegation’s visit was to help “ensure the immediate return of constitutional order”.

 

“ECOWAS appreciates what is happening in Mali and ECOWAS wants the best for the country,” Jonathan said after his arrival.

 

SOURCE: Channels

Nig. Govt. declares Sept., 16 National Identity Day

 

 The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared September 16 as National Identity Day and has supported the enrolment of Nigerians for Digital Identity (ID) across the country.

 

Dr Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, said this in a statement signed by Uwa Suleiman, his spokesperson, in Abuja.

 

Mr Pantami reminded Nigerians of the importance of digital identity, adding that the ministry was developing the right policy environment to support enrolment for digital IDs in the country.

 

He said that the celebration of the National Identity Day would take place virtually, adding that digital IDs play critical roles in the development of digital economies, as they were often called the fabrics of the digital economies.

 

Mr Pantami also stressed that the importance of a digital identity programme for the successful development of a digital economy cannot be overstated.

 

“The Sept. 16, has been declared as the National Identity Day. Following the approval of the federal government under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria also formally adopted 16.9 as the National Identity Day.

 

This year’s edition of the National Identity Day will take place virtually on the same date and will have the theme: Identity for Health, Sustainable Development and Growth.

 

“We will start by capturing Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria and will also support the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and other stakeholders to ensure that we make the process of obtaining digital identities swift and secure.

 

“One of the key objectives of pillar 6 (Soft Infrastructure) of National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) is support for the accelerated implementation of a Digital Identity Programme,” he said.

 

He said that the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa rightly noted that Digital Identity and the digital economy were not only linked, but reinforcing as digital ID was the basis for digital economy platforms.

 

INTERVIEW WITH AMBP. DR. ALFRED MBOTO (FCNA, FCAI, FCSA, FOSHA) ‘Greatness will come only from the common things you have done well’ - Alfred Mboto

 Intro:

 Dr. Alfred Mboto is a calm, gentle and an unassuming gentleman. His humility is so obvious in the manner he relates with people. This is unlike most people of his status especially, in this part of the world.

A Certified National Accountant and a Fellow, Certified National Accountants of Nigeria,  Alfred Mboto, holds a Ph'D in Accounting and he is the immediate past Chairman of Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), Cross River State Branch and has reached the zenith of his career. He is currently, the Permanent Secretary, Special Services office; which co-ordinates security matters in Cross River State.

Graceful, grateful and God-conscious, no matter how brief any discussion with him is, he never fails to acknowledge God as the source of all that he is and attributes all his successes in life to the grace of God.

An unsung philanthropist, AmbP. Alfred Mboto has over the years, been a vehicle which has driven development to individuals, organizations, groups and churches. But he prefers to remain silent on this aspect of his life.

In this interview with GAM at his office, Alfred Mboto talks about his humble beginning and his journey to the top which was not without challenges. However, he was able to make it with God as the architect and planner of his life. 

GAM: Can we meet you?

MBOTO:  I am Dr. Alfred Mboto. I am a permanent secretary in the Special Services Office in Governor’s office, Calabar. For the sake of clarification, Special services office co-ordinates security in the entire Cross River State.

GAM: Do you also hold the designation of a Special Adviser to the Governor on security matters?

MBOTO: Before now, this office was headed by the State Security Adviser but with the new architecture, we have three state Security Advisers, one per senatorial district in the state, who are coordinated by me. The administrative headship of this office rests with the Permanent Secretary.

GAM: Can you tell us about your background?

MBOTO: I come from a humble family. My parents; father and mother, married each other as orphans. They were both peasant farmers determined to succeed in their farming. They stayed together because of love and raised their children with strict discipline.They were not church goers but they were Christians at heart. I cannot forget the charity they showed to those who lacked food in the community. The mad persons who strayed to our compound were not left out in their care. They were successful yam farmers. In fact, they were yam title owners.  Then, success was measured by the number of yam barns you could boast of, the number of economic trees that can be attributed to you, the number of canoes you had in the river and so on. In other words, they were successful at the time.

My parents believed that they could raise children who would surpass their mark of achievements and they lived to that and saw us through schools. I am the fourth of the six children(all boys) from my mother. My elder brothers and  siblings and I owe our respective achievements in life to them. May their souls rest in peace, Amen.

GAM: You are an accountant by profession? What informed your choice of accounting as a career?

MBOTO: Truly speaking, as a youth back then, my career choice was not accounting. I had hoped to become a lawyer. I think wherever life takes you to; you should dance to the tune or in accordance with what God wants you to do. I never believed in my life that I would end up as an accountant. If I were not a Lawyer, I would have probably, become an architect. Now, here I am, as God made it, I turned out to become an accountant. God is the determining factor in our lives.  You may be hoping to become one thing in life but God turns you to another.

I know that I wrote JAMB and scored 267. The cut-off point for that year was 270. Twice, I tried but in vain. Now, I know that God wanted me to become an accountant.  I started out in Education. In Education, my interest was in Economics/Accounting, before proceeding to Accounting as a course. Today, by the grace of God, I am a  certified accountant and a  Fellow, indeed.

GAM:  Do you consider yourself a fulfilled person?

MBOTO:  I feel fulfilled because it is what God wanted me to become in life. God determines who and what we become in life. All one needs to do is to add efforts towards actualising God’s plan. Perhaps, if I had gone out of God’s plan for me, I may not have reached the level I have found myself. Today, I am a Certified National accountant and a permanent secretary, which is the peak of the civil service. God has been very kind to me. My message to every person is this: Allow the will of God to be done in your life. If anyone had told me then, that I would become an accountant; perhaps, I would have doubted it. It is therefore, important to advise people to always go after the will of God and not after what they desire.

GAM: Can we have a peep into your religious life?

MBOTO:   I was born into a family of traditional religion. We had a primary school in my village, St Paul's School,  Ovonum, which was owned by the Catholic Mission where white priests came to celebrate mass. Then, I often admired the mass servers who served at mass. I really admired the manner the white priests interacted and played with them. My two elder brothers were already baptized and practising  Catholics to my attraction. At that time, I used to imitate the mass servers. Eventually, I became a chorister,  baptised, a mass server,  confirmed catholic and later got married to my wife from a non Catholic family.

I love Catholicism. As we speak, we are staunched Catholics in my family. We can boast of three knights; two are Knights of St. Mulumba and one is a Knight of St.John's International.

GAM: You mentioned your wife while trying to talk about your religious life. How did you meet her? Can you tell us about the family you have both raised?

MBOTO:  When I felt it was time for me to marry, I went to the village. There I found my wife at our regular farm yard in the village when she was returning from farm. I did not marry because I was having so much but I married because I wanted to be responsible and I love her. As at the time I married my wife, I can remember that we did not have anything but we could boast of a cassava farm. We even got married before we finished school. Our marriage has been blessed with a girl and two boys with the girl now married.

Marriage should be based on love. Every other blessing will come, base on the love you have for each other. It is unfortunate that these days, a lot of young people see marriage from the perspective of materialism. When you ask a young man why he is not married yet, he will tell you that he is yet to secure a white-collar job. For the young woman, she will tell you that she does not see a future with the young man before him because he has nothing doing. Both of you can work things out.

Besides, love is the foundation of marriage. Love each other. Respect each other. Do not go into marriage because of material things. Do not go into marriage because you want to obtain favour from a partner. Rather go into marriage because you sincerely love each other.

GAM: Did you know that you will become this great?

MBOTO: I did not know. I did not know that God will bring me this far in life. I owe everything I am and will become, to God.

GAM: What has been your most memorable moment?

MBOTO:  For the joyous, the day I was baptised and ushered into the Catholic Christian life. That day the Priest said to me: ‘’I baptise you in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit." On the other hand, for the sad one, the day my elder brother, late Dr Ferdinand Abeng Mboto (KSJI) died. I still remember it as if it were yesterday.

GAM: Do you have any regret in life?

MBOTO: No, I don’t think so except that I think I have not done much yet for the society.

GAM: What advice do you have for the youths especially, the Nigerian youths at this time where the future seems uncertain?

MBOTO:  I recall vividly that my parents were very concerned about us and would always advise that we respect dignity of labour. Same counsel, I will offer to our youths. Choose industry over enjoyment. Greatness will only come from the common things you have done well. If you check the Guinness Book of Record, there is no where you will be told or shown the person who enjoyed life the most in the world.

Let me also advise our youths to respect the elders. Obey the norms and constituted authorities. Be humble. Be hardworking, truthful, fear God and respect the sanctity of human life.  

The youths in Nigeria have so much to do. Let them shun all the vices that have turned our country into this level of insecurity. Engage yourself in productive ventures. Do not be idle. Do not wait for the white collar jobs. I remember that as a young person and student, I was going from one house to another to teach children extra-mural classes and I was earning so much from that before I had a job. Youths, change your current abnormal mentality. The dependency mentality must be changed. That mentality of desiring to earn money that you did not work for must be changed. Believe in hard work and reward of labour. Stop living above your income and stop indulging in negative innovations threatening peace and harmony.

Most importantly, be close to God. If you are close to God, you will achieve so much and our country will become great again.

GAM: What do you hope to do after retirement?

MBOTO:  If God permits, I should go and lecture in the university. I want to share my knowledge and experience over the years, with the young ones. I want to help guide them aright.

GAM: Where do you see your country, Nigeria in the next ten years?

MBOTO: The landmass called Nigeria will still be Nigeria. For me, the future of this country is not bleak but bright. Let more efforts be invested in education and research, mentoring the youths for entrepreneurship mindset development, building local infrastructure with greater concentration of local content to reduce unemployment in the nation and the nation to uphold justice in all circumstances. Let the youths also build themselves for productive living shunning all forms of criminality.

GAM: Your job is a very critical one.  Do you encounter or fear threat of harassment or intimidation to your life or person?

MBOTO: I am not and I have never been afraid of anyone. For me, it is God who has the final say to every one’s life and situation and only His will must always be done. Nevertheless, I try my best to carry all my staff and everyone around me along. I also try to give my best to my job. My motto is: Life is meaningless without others.

Also, accountability is a key factor in our job. If you see white, you call it white.  Besides, security is dialogue. The best way to resolve any matter is first of all dialogue and restoring security. They are very relevant. My advocacy is peace. I was appointed United Nations Ambassador for peace and I have been on peace mission locally and internationally. The dialogue strategy has worked very well. As we speak, so many leaders of the cult groups in our state have renounced cultism and have embraced peace.

GAM:  What are some of those security tips you can offer at the moment?

MBOTO:  Every person should think of safety and fear God. Stop living flamboyantly. Control your movements. Do not discuss financial transactions publicly. Be mindful of who is following you. Live your life in such a manner that will not make people see you as a target. Life should be lived in a modest way. Be contented and cut your coat according to your size.

GAM: What will you like to be remembered for?

MBOTO:  History should hold that this man was a benefactor of life.

GAM: Thank you for granting us this interview.

MBOTO: You are welcome and peace be with you.

Africa Reverberates For Adesina

The high and low personalities across different countries in the African continent have expressed delight over the reelection of Dr. Akinwumi Adesina as the President of African Development Bank (AFDB).

Since his reelection to serve a second term of five years as President of the African Development Bank, with 100% votes of all regional and non-regional members of the bank, a lot of people have expressed happiness and hope that he will do better than he did in his first term in office.

Adesina, who was a Minister of Agriculture in the later years of erstwhile Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan administration, had introduced a lot of unprecedented reforms while in office.

In his first tenure in office as President of the African Development Bank, Adesina executed a lot of projects across the continent.

THE PROFILE OF AN ELDER STATESMAN, HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, ELDER, ETUBOM, [RT. HON.], PRINCE, ENIAN ESIEN THE DOYEN OF CROSS RIVER STATE POLITICS YEAR 1920 TO YEAR 2020

 

PREAMBLE:

His Royal Highness, Elder, Etubom, [RT. Hon.], Prince, Enian Esien was born on Saturday July 26, 1920 and it pleased God Almighty that on July 26, year 2020, he attained one hundred [100] years of age. It could therefore be deduced that he was born on the last day of the week and his one hundredth [100] birthday fell on a Sunday, the beginning of the new week and “God’s Own Day”. This connotes a long heartwarming period and the full completion of a centenarian circle. For which we ‘Give God the Glory’. From the information contained in the opening sentence of this profile, this doyen of Cross River State Politics was born a few years after the formal amalgamation of Northern and Southern Protectorates of the former British Colony to form the country now known as Nigeria.

BIRTH AND PARENTAGE:

His father was Late Obong Esien Enian Esien, M.B.E., the then Paramount Ruler of Efik Iboku Esit Edik, an area comprising Creek Town, Adiabo and Ikoneto as presently constituted. His mother was Late Madam Edemanwan Ewa Esien of Henshaw Town, Calabar, nee Ma Edemanwan Ewa Efanga. His Royal Highness, Elder, Etubom, [RT.Hon.], Prince, Enian Esien was the eldest son in a family of four males and two females.

EDUCATION:

His Royal Highness, Elder, Etubom, [RT. Hon.] Prince, Enian Esien commenced his primary School education at Government Primary School Mamfi, Cameroons, where his father was the Head Master of the School. Later on, Government Primary School, Eket, Akwa Ibom State  was opened. His father was transferred to head the School. His Royal Highness, Elder, Etubom, [RT. Hon.] Prince, Enian Esien accompanied his father to the new School. There he sat and obtained the Standard Six [6] Certificate. He gained admission into the Hope Waddell Normal School, Calabar, Cross River State – a School system that blended vocational and conventional secondary education. He finished in the apex class in the School. Thereafter, he commenced internship with his late father, playing basically supervisory role and carved a niche for himself in that setting. He is a determined and vigorous person, but he is also pleasantly a calm and an unassuming personality.

 

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE:

As he grew, up he was captivated by the activities of the nationalists, who advocated for self-rule in Nigeria. As such, between 1944 – 1950, this Elder Statesman was pre-occupied with activism as a youth. He collaboated with his contemporaries, namely,  Barr. Kola Balogun, Nduka Eze, Mokwobo Okoye, Osita Agwuna and Aminu Kano to mention a few of them, to form the Zikist National Vanguard. The Vanguard was a political subsidiary to the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons [N.C.N.C.], one of the nationalist movements which fought for Nigerian Independence. His persistent association with those who played positive role towards the attainment of Nigeria Independence in 1960, assisted to bring His Royal Highness, Elder, Etubom [RT. Hon.], Prince, Enian Esien to lime-light.

Between 1951 – 1953, His Royal Highness, Elder,  Etubom, [RT. Hon.], Prince, Enian Esien was elected to the Eastern House of Assembly, Enugu, Nigeria as a member representing Calabar Division. In 1952, while still a member of the Eastern House of Assembly, he moved a motion for the establishment of Calabar Oil Palm Plantation a.k.a. Calaro Oil Palm Plantation at Mbarakom in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. It is on record that the oil palm plantation contributed immensely to the socio-economic development of Eastern Nigeria as a whole when it subsisted. Furthermore, when he was actively involved in politics, resilient optimism was his guiding principle. From this standpoint, he made consequential contributions to the Nigerian democratic experience.

WORKING EXPERIENCE:

In 1945, His Royal Highness, Elder, Etubom, [RT. Hon.], Prince, Enian Esien was employed by the then Meteorological Service, a subsidiary of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria. In 1954, he resigned from that employment to contest for the position of Chairman of Calabar  Urban District Council. He won the election and became the Chairman of that Council. His administration nurtured and strengthen two foremost Secondary Schools, namely, Hope Waddell Training Institution, Diamond Hill, Calabar and Saint Partick’s College, Ikot Ansa, Calabar. Also, it was during his Chairmanship of that Council that Government Primary School, Mayne Avenue, Calabar, was built. The School was converted into the Science Secondary School during the Governorship tenure of His Excellency, Mr. Donald Etim Duke.

In 1955, the Efik - Qua - Efut Native Authority had to wind-up in order to give room for an elected Local Government System of government. This Elder Statesman was a co-opted member of the winding-up Committee. His honest and unwavering disposition made him to cause the Authority to donate four thousand pounds sterling [£4,000.00] from its distributive assets to the Roman Catholic Mission, Calabar under the leadership of Late ArchBishop [Dr.] Brian David Usanga, for the establishment of the Holy Child Girls Secondary School, Goldie Road, Calabar;  a Secondary School which subsist to date.

Between 1974 – 1984, His Royal Highness, Elder, Etubom, [RT.Hon.], Prince Enian Esien had at various periods served as Commissioner for Local Government, Commissioner for Works and Commissioner for Establishment in the old Cross River State. During the period under reference, he ensured the establishment of Secondary Schools in Akpap Okoyong, Obomitiat Edere and Odot all in Odukpani Local Government Area in Cross River State. His effort in establishing new Schools and strengthening the existing Schools represent major investments in human capacity development in the old Cross River State in particular and Nigeria in general. As the Commissioner of Works, his tenure witnessed up-surge of urban renewal programmes and the opening of rural roads in the old Cross River State as was then constituted. Also, some phases of the State Housing Estates were built under his watch. As Commissioner for Environment, he developed training policies and programmes which enhanced the performance of the entire old Cross River State Public Service Sector. 

MYSTICAL LIFE:

His Royal Highness, Elder, Etubom, [RT. Hon.], Prince, Enian Esien is a Mason of Scottish Constitution origin. He is a member of Lodge Hope, No. 02, Grand Lodge of Nigeria, Calabar. He is the oldest living member of the Lodge. He served the Lodge as the Worshipful Master [literally, the leader of the Lodge] from 2007 to 2010 Masonic years, making him to served in that capacity for three [3] consecutive terms. He greatly imbibed the tenets of the Masonic axion of “Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth”. He is indeed a true and faithful mason within and outside the Order. To the Elder Statesman, life means family members and friends whom you can trust and who also trust you. He discovered and cherished this virtue in freemasonry.

COMMUNITY LIFE:

His Royal Highness, Elder, Etubom, [RT. Hon.], Prince, Enian Esien is a dependable leader in many areas in the Efik Community. He is a member of the Etuboms Traditional Rulers Council, the Highest Policy and Kingship body in Efik Eburutu Kingdom. He is also a member of the Odukpani Traditional Rulers Council of Odukpani Local Government Area, Cross River State. This humble man of integrity and Elder Statesman is also a member of the Efik Iboku Esit Edik Traditional Rulers Council. A Council whose membership comprise traditional rulers from Western and North Western Calabar and their Advisers.  He is an amiable cultural activist who is always involved in keeping Efik Culture alive. In 1998, the Obomitiat Ikoneto Traditional Council sought and obtained approval from the Etuboms Traditional Council in the Palace of the Obong of Calabar to split Obomitiat Ikoneto Royal House into two [2] Distinct Houses, namely,  Ikot Ukpong and Ikot Ukorebi Royal Houses, respectively, from the  single House status as Obomitiat Ikoneto. When the split was perfected, His Royal Highness, Elder, Etubom [RT. Hon.], Prince, Enian Esien was capped the Etubom of Ufok Ikot Ukpong and Late Etubom Esien Ukorebi Ekpenyong, of blessed memory, was capped the Etubom of Ufok Ikot Ukorebi, all in Obomitiat Ikoneto. As a cultural icon, he is presently the Iyamba Ekpe of Efe Ekpe Obomitiat Ikoneto, an Ekpe Lodge which belongs to Mme Efe Ekpe Efik Iboku fame and ancestral lineages.

SOCIAL LIFE:

His Royal Highness, Elder, Etubom, [RT. Hon.], Prince, Enian Esien built relationships based on love, respect and sincerity. He is of the opinion that in recent times, it is unfortunate that people accord recognition more to social status than anything else, which according to him is a wrong practice and should not be encouraged. For him service to humanity is a core value in human relationship. He loved with compassion and showed more sense of concern for the well-being of others which ultimately becomes a source of happiness and relief to all around him. He empowered some youths within and outside the ambience of his immediate community and for others, he assisted them with the paying of their School fees and purchase of books. Thus, he became an advocate for bottom-up solutions for sustainable development, with a view to evolving the culture of entrepreneurship amongst the people in a wider perspective. Furthermore, he took steps to develop the tacit knowledge of individuals through organizing community meetings where individuals indicate their handicaps and required assistance. He then went on his own to source the assistance required and deliver same to the needy. Indeed, he inspired many more persons beyond what words can convey and express.

His benevolence and good leadership traits were transmitted to successive State Government administrations. In consequence, in year 2005, the administration of His Excellency, Mr. Donald Etim Duke, honoured him with a Certificate of Special State Award for his commitment towards the transformation of Cross River State. Similarly, in year 2010 during the golden jubilee of Nigeria, His Excellency, Senator Liyel Imoke, then Governor, Cross River State decorated His Royal Highness, Elder, Etubom, [RT. Hon.], Prince, Enian Esien with other fifty [50] Citizens of Cross River State with a State Special Award in recognition of his outstanding services to the State.

 

CHRISTIAN LIFE:

His Royal Highness, Elder, Etubom, [RT. Hon.], Prince, Enian Esien was born into the Presbyterian Church. He first worshipped at the Duke Town Parish and later he transferred his membership to the Henshaw Town Parish of the Church. In year 2015, he left to Presbyterian Faith and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Ephraim Street Branch, Calabar. In recognition of his startling devotion and contributions to the Lay Section of the Church, he was ordained an Elder in that Church, where he worships to date.

MARITAL LIFE:

His Royal Highness, Elder, Etubom, [RT. Hon.], Prince, Enian Esien was married to Mrs. Sarah Ewawa Esien, nee Sarah Ewawa Eke from Obutong, Old Town, Calabar. She died in 1948. This amiable Statesman is blessed with five [5] children. Two male and three female, namely, Esien Enian Esien, Edemanwan [Glory] Enian Esien, Victor Enian Esien, Efioanwan Enian Esien and Eme Enian Esien. Regrettably, Efioanwan Enian Esien died a couple of years ago.

CONCLUSION:

His Royal Highness, Elder, Etubom, [RT. Hon.], Prince, Enian Esien is a meticulous and an amazing personality versed in politics and community service. He is blessed with longevity. It is therefore a worthy event to celebrate his dexterity and resilience as a credible and dependable leader who is modest, resourceful, articulate, pleasant, hardworking, generous, calm and conscientious in his approach to issues and whose legacy is worth emulating by his succeeding generations.

Thank you.

 

Compiled By:

Chief [Hon.] Esien E. Ekpenyong, Jp.

July 2020.

 

No exit talks between Barca and Messi – club source

 

 

Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi arrives at the team’s hotel after being defeated during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final football match against Bayern Munich at the Luz stadium in Lisbon on August 14, 2020.

 Barcelona insisted they had not heard from Lionel Messi that he wants to leave the club, as an emergency board meeting was being held at Camp Nou on Monday.

Barca officials, including under-fire president Josep Maria Bartomeu, were due to discuss wholesale changes following the team’s humiliating 8-2 Champions League quarter-final defeat by Bayern Munich on Friday.

 A report from Esporte Interativo on Sunday even claimed Messi has made up his mind to leave this summer, although a Barcelona source told AFP shortly before the board meeting was due to start that there had still been no communication with the club to that effect.

 Messi’s frustration will be among the issues to be discussed along with the future of coach Quique Setien, who is expected to be sacked.

 Ronald Koeman had emerged as the favourite on Monday to replace Setien given concerns around the suitability of Mauricio Pochettino, who has previously said he would never coach Barcelona due to his links to rivals Espanyol.

 Another option is Barca B coach Garcia Pimienta, who could oversee a greater emphasis on youth before a longer-term appointment is made after the presidential elections next year.

 Former Barca midfielder Xavi Hernandez would be the preferred option of Messi and other senior players but Xavi has recently signed a new deal with Qatari club Al-Sadd and is against working under the current board.

 Another possible outcome of Monday’s meeting is that the club’s presidential elections, due in June 2021, are brought forward, although it is more likely they would be advanced to earlier next year than the next few months.

 Sporting director Eric Abidal will also have his future discussed and could be moved on.

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Defender Gerard Pique called for sweeping changes after describing the heavy loss to Bayern, Barca’s worst ever in Europe, as their “rock bottom”.

 But Bartomeu asked for patience. “We are hurting, but once we get to next week we will start making decisions,” he told television channel Movistar.

 “The credibility of a coach is diminished when this happens, clearly. That is obvious, but that does not bother me right now.

 “I think what happens today needs to be analysed with a bit more perspective,” he added.

 SOURCE: GUARDIAN

Ghana Airports may open next month ...says President

 

 President Nana Akufo-Addo has indicated that Ghana’s international airport may reopen next month after measures are set in place to test arriving passengers for coronavirus.

“I know many still ask when our borders, especially our international airport, Kotoka International Airport, will be open,” Akufo-Addo said in a televised address late Sunday.

 

“Under my instructions, the Ministry of Aviation, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and the Ghana Airports Co. Ltd., have been working with the Ministry of Health and its agencies to ascertain our readiness to reopen our airport,” he said.

 “I want to ensure that we are in a position to test every single passenger that arrives in the country to avoid the spread of the virus,” he said.

 “The outcome of that exercise will show us the way, and determine when we can reopen our border by air. I am hoping that, by God’s grace, we will be ready to do so by 1st September.”

Kotoka, located outside the capital Accra, was closed in March along with other border points in a bid to contain the spread of the virus. Schools were also shut and public gatherings banned.

 Ghana, a country of 30 million people, has recorded 42,653 cases since March, 239 of them fatal.

 SOURCE: GUARDIAN