Breaking News

Paul Ndiho

Produced by Paul Ndiho

April 25, 2024
Analysis: US President Biden signs foreign aid bill

United States President Joe Biden signed into law the 95 billion dollars in foreign aid proposed by Congress. The legislation has been delayed for several months due to debates over the extent of U.S. involvement in foreign wars as well as several objections from politicians over the bill’s controversial banning of the popular app TikTok. VOA’s Esther Githui-Ewart spoke to VOA’s Paul Ndiho live on Capitol Hill for the latest now that Biden has signed the bill into law.
April 24, 2024
UK Parliament approves Rwanda deportation bill

The Parliament of the United Kingdom recently approved a bill that would allow the country to expel migrants trying to enter from Africa and the Middle East and send them to Rwanda for asylum. Under the now approved plan, flights are set to begin in July. For more details, VOA’s Paul Ndiho spoke to Yasmine Ahmed, the United Kingdom director at Human Rights Watch.
April 22, 2024
Analysis: US House of Representatives approves foreign aid bill

U.S. lawmakers on Saturday passed a $95 billion foreign aid bill aimed at addressing conflicts across the world. The legislation also touches on a provision to force the sale of Chinese-based social media platform Tik Tok. For more, VOA’s Esther Githui-Ewart spoke to reporter Paul Ndiho who joined the show from the U.S. Capitol.
April 18, 2024
US Senate drops impeachment charges against immigration secretary

The U.S. Senate has ended the trial to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for his handling of the U.S.-Mexico border crisis. The articles of impeachment were dismissed as Democrats argued that they were unconstitutional and failed to meet the constitutional burden of high crimes and misdemeanors. For an analysis into what the dropped charges mean for Secretary Mayorkas, VOA’s Esther Githui-Ewart spoke to VOA’s Paul Ndiho live from the United States Capitol.
April 18, 2024
Uganda-based tech hub aims to bridge Africa- diaspora innovation gap

Africa-based tech companies are increasingly finding ways to bridge the innovation divide between the continent and the diaspora. VOA's Paul Ndiho speaks with Ghanaian entrepreneur Foster Awintiti Akugri, who is also the founder and president of the Hacklab Foundation, which fosters youth entrepreneurship in Ghana. VOA's Paul Ndiho spoke with Akugri, who is currently in Washington, DC, about the possibilities in tech for Africa, and Innovation Village in Kampala, Uganda.
April 18, 2024
Sierra Leone women capitalize on gender equity & empowerment law

Women in Sierra Leone are increasing opportunities to empower themselves, as provided under the Gender Equality and Empowerment Act, signed by President Julius Maada Bio in January 2023. The groundbreaking legislation requires that at least 30 percent of both public and private sector jobs be reserved for women, and it also grants them 14 weeks of maternity leave. VOA's Paul Ndiho spoke with Naasu Genevieve Fofanah, an entrepreneur and women's rights advocate in Sierra Leone about its significance.
April 13, 2024
Analysis: Unemployment a Critical Topic in South Africa’s 2024 Elections

Political experts watching developments in South Africa as the nation prepares for its May 29 general elections say the governing African National Congress, ANC, could for the first time in 30-years lose its parliamentary majority due to failures to address critical issues such as high unemployment and hindered economic growth. For more, VOA’s Paul Ndiho spoke to Mundia Paul Hakoola, a political analyst based in Zambia’s capital, Lusaka.
April 12, 2024
Reducing Financial Gender Disparity in Sierra Leone

In sub-Saharan Africa, there is a significant disparity between the percentage of women and men with bank accounts. Only 37% of women have one, while 48% of men do. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Naasu Genevieve Fofanah launched Susue Women to advocate for government policies that increase women's access to finance. In an interview with VOA's Paul Ndiho, Fofanah discussed the reasons behind the gender gap in access to finance.
April 10, 2024
Tech Report: Developing Artificial Intelligence Skills in Ghana

Learning about new technology means gaining technical skills, developing expertise, and preparing for the job market. In Ghana, MakersPlace, a technology-driven skills development center, is helping young people learn these skills. For more, VOA's Paul Ndiho is joined by Douglas Ayitey, the founder and CEO of MakersPlace in Accra, Ghana, who is on a mission to empower hundreds of thousands of people.
April 10, 2024
US Congress to Address Several Domestic and International Issues

The United States Congress this week resumed its current session after the Easter holiday and experts say lawmakers must address several domestic and international issues. Listed on the issues that need attention are funding for the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, and growing opposition to Washington providing Israel with weapons amid the ongoing war with Hamas militants in Gaza. For more, VOA’s Esther Githui-Ewart spoke to Paul Ndiho who was at Capitol Hill.
April 09, 2024
Analysis: South African Youth Pessimistic Ahead of Elections

Experts on South African political affairs say the nation’s youth are pessimistic about the May 29 elections and believe that their vote will bring little change. For insight, VOA’s Paul Ndiho spoke to Maropeng Mpya, a political commentator based in South Africa’s most populous city, Johannesburg.
April 04, 2024
Tech Report: Ghanaian STEM Students Explore Robotics

Ghana is making strides in promoting women's and girls' participation in STEM fields, or Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. A new initiative is gaining momentum and is seen as a promising step towards the future of STEM education. VOA’s Paul Ndiho spoke with Jonathan Kennedy, the CEO of Inovtech Stem Center, based in Accra, Ghana for more on how STEM and robotics are making their way in to the country's classrooms.
April 02, 2024
Analysis: Senegal’s Bassirou Faye Sworn in As President

Bassirou Diomaye Faye has never held elected office as he prepares to take the helm of a nation struggling with a faltering economy that has one in three of around 17 million inhabitants living in poverty. According to analysts, the peaceful transfer of power in a region that has experienced coups is evidence of Senegal's political maturity and democratic stability. For more insight into this matter, VOA's Paul Ndiho spoke with Mundia Paul Hakoola, a political analyst based in Lusaka, Zambia.
April 02, 2024
African Diaspora Continues to Play Critical Role in International Development

The African diaspora has significantly contributed to developing and rebuilding African countries. They provide remittances, transfer skills, advocate for political and social causes, and promote African culture globally. To better understand how governments can leverage the potential of the African diaspora, VOA’s Paul Ndiho was joined in studio by Nii Simmonds, a nonresident senior fellow at the Washington-based think tank, The Atlantic Council.
March 30, 2024
Tech Report: Fighting Corruption Using Artificial Intelligence

Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2023 reveals a complex landscape of Africa's battle against corruption. While there are some signs of progress, there are enduring challenges across the continent. Despite some African countries' strides, the overall situation remains bleak, with the average regional score at 33 out of 100. For more, VOA’s Paul Ndiho spoke to Sombo Muzata, an assistant professor at James Madison University’s Department of Political Science.
March 30, 2024
Analysis: South Africa’s Election Commission Bars Zuma from Presidency

Jacob Zuma, the former President of South Africa, has been disqualified from running in the country's upcoming general election in May. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) did not explain his disqualification. To gain more insight into the current political situation in South Africa, VOA's Paul Ndiho spoke with Dr. Maropeng Mpya, an advocate and political and social commentator based in Johannesburg.
March 30, 2024
Tech Report: Experts Call on Users to Embrace Artificial Intelligence

As the world grapples to better understand Artificial Intelligence, commonly known as AI, experts are calling on users to embrace the opportunities that the software presents in the work sector. For insight on AI and its functionalities, VOA’s tech reporter Paul Ndiho spoke to Philip Thigo, a Kenyan technology and public policy expert. He is also an advisory board member on AI for the United Nations Secretary-General.
March 29, 2024
African Continental Trade Area Boosts Economic Opportunity

Four years have passed since African countries began trading under "The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)." This groundbreaking initiative aims to unite 1.3 billion people in a $3.4 trillion economic bloc, making it the largest free trade area ever established since the World Trade Organization's inception. According to the World Bank, this trade agreement can lift tens of millions of people out of poverty by 2035. VOA's Paul Ndiho reports.
March 27, 2024
Zambia Declares National Emergency as Drought Worsens

Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema recently declared a national emergency because of the drought that has devastated the country's food production and electricity generation. This declaration comes after a deadly cholera outbreak, which hampered the country’s ability to withstand the unusually strong drought. The lack of rain has affected over one million hectares of land used to cultivate maize, the country's staple crop. For the latest assessment of the drought, VOA’s Paul Ndiho spoke to Paul Chisunku, the Country Director of the African Education Program based in Lusaka, Zambia.
March 23, 2024
Prolonged Drought in Zambia Causes Food Price Increases

Zambia is facing a national disaster due to a prolonged dry spell, causing the price of staple food to surge. To combat hunger and rising prices, the African Education Program has joined hands with the Amos Youth Centre (AYC) in Kafue, Zambia, to launch a Nutrition Program. The program provides meals with an average of 1,500 calories to more than 350 children and youth every school day. VOA's Paul Ndiho spoke to Paul Chisunka, Country Director of the African Education Program, based in Lusaka, Zambia, to gain more insight into the program.

XS

SM

MD

LG