Africa

Ghana and coach Avram Grant want to go one better than in 2015 when they lost the final to Ivory Coast on penalties.

Striker Asamoah Gyan and West Ham midfielder Andre Ayew were part of the team two years ago, and their experience and quality is expected to help the Black Stars see off Uganda.

Uganda pair Murushid Juuko and Khalid Aucho are both suspended.

The Cranes are at the tournament for the first time since 1978, when they lost to hosts Ghana in the final.

That history adds a little extra spice to the Group D match.

With the worst of the energy crisis seemingly over, Ghana's prospects look brighter, despite ongoing global uncertainties, Abdul-Nashiru Issahaku, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana said.

Issahaku told the global publishing firm, Oxford Business Group (OBG) in an interview that improvements in the country's energy supply were evident, while other remedial measures had helped Ghana to address its fiscal imbalances, boost investor confidence and secure macroeconomic stability.

Ghana’s economic challenges

Nana Akufo-Addo has officially began work as president of Ghana, the new head of state will have to tackle enormous challenges facing the economy.

Early last year, Ghana sought some $918 million dollar bailout from international lenders at the height of its challenges.

According to economists in the country, the government will have to implement clear policies to resolve the many issues that lie ahead.

Here is more with Jean David Mihamle and Kenneth Karuri. . .

ACCRA (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) plans to visit Ghana to hear the new government's plans for implementing the country's $918 million aid deal, the Fund said on Thursday.

President Nana Akufo-Addo was sworn in on Saturday pledging to cut taxes, spend on development and boost annual growth to double digits as he seeks to return Ghana to its place as one of Africa's most dynamic economies.

Six of the newly created ministerial portfolios will operate from the Office of the President; President Nana Akufo-Addo has said. According to him, the budgetary allocations of the new portfolios will be captured under the Office of the President.

A total of 36 people have been nominated by the President as of now to handle 36 portfolios.

Some of the portfolios have been carved out of existing ones, whilst others are a re-introduction of some of the portfolios that existed during former President John Kufuor's era.

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Thursday released the third batch of ministerial nominees for Parliamentary consideration.

The list of 11 nominees adds up to the previously announced 25 nominees bringing the total number to 36 as of now.

Nine of them are females and 27 males. Twenty two of them are already Members of Parliament (MP).

Out of the nine females, six of them are MPs. 16 out of the 27 males are also MPs.

Nana Akufo-Addo has been sworn in as Ghana's new president after beating John Mahama in last month's election.

Heads of state from across Africa and thousands of guests and dignitaries watched him take the oath of office at a ceremony in the capital, Accra.

Mr Akufo-Addo, a 72-year-old former human rights lawyer, promised free high school education and more factories.

But critics have questioned the viability of his ambitions.

Third time lucky for Nana Akufo-Addo

Ghana profile

Britain’s four-decade membership of the EU has left it lacking experience in international negotiations, which will hamper it in trade talks and may lead to “a very hard Brexit”, Norway’s prime minister has said.

“We do feel that sometimes when we are discussing with Britain, that their speed is limited by the fact that it is such a long time since they have negotiated” on their own, Erna Solberg told Reuters at a meeting of Bavaria’s centre-right CSU party in Germany.

Accra, Jan 4, GNA - It was a delight to watch, when President John Dramani Mahama and President -elect Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo met at the Flagstaff House as part of the on-going transition exercise.

The meeting at the Presidency was at the behest of President Mahama whose objective was to conduct President -elect Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo to various departments and offices at the Flagstaff House, Kanda.

Accra, Jan. 4, GNA - The President-Elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Wednesday made key appointments for the Presidency and National Security ahead of his inauguration as Head of State of the Republic of Ghana on Saturday, January 7, 2016.

Nana Akufo-Addo named Ms Akosua Frema Opare, a 69-year-old Development Consultant and a Labour and Employment Expert, as Chief of Staff, and Nana Bediatuo Asante, a 53-year old Lawyer, as Secretary to the President.