DEMOCRACY UNDER SCRUTINY The presidential election on October 25 in the West African nation comes after a decade of relative stability following the post-electoral crisis of 2010–2011, which left thousands dead and a nation divided. While Ivory Coast, officially known as Cote d' Ivoire, has since enjoyed strong economic growth, deep political fault lines remain. The vote will follow a two-round system: If no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, the election will head to a runoff. The elected president will serve a five-year term, which would allow him or her to shape the country's political direction for the remainder of the decade. Ouattara makes unprecedented bid for fourth term President Alassane Ouattara, 83, is seeking a fourth term after constitutional changes in 2016 reset term limits. A former International Monetary Fund economist, Ouattara is expected to win. Under his leadership, Ivory Coast became one of Africa's fastest-growing economies, buoyed by major infrastructure investments. According to the World Bank, Ivory Coast "has sustained one of the fastest growth rates in sub-Saharan Africa for more than a decade." The World Bank adds that "between 2012 and 2019, real GDP expanded at an average of 8.2%," with growth persisting even through the COVID-19 pandemic. Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara gestures as he arrives at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium, waving at the crowdIvory Coast President Alassane Ouattara gestures as he arrives at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium, waving at the crowd Alassane Ouattara wants to remain president, and had the constitution amended to allow him to run again Image: Sia Kambou/AFP One beneficiary of government investment and economic growth is the key agricultural region around Daloa. Situated about 140 kilometers (about 85 miles) west of the capital, Yamoussoukro, the area previously lacked industrial zones. But the government's Infrastructure Renewal and Urban Management Project (PRICI) has invested in roads, water, sanitation and public buildings. Daloa resident Danielle Zahui told DW: "We came out in numbers to thank the president for what he's done for Daloa." Yet challenges remain. Only 25% of secondary roads are paved, and the 191-kilometer stretch between Daloa, Vavoua, Seguela, and Kani is in poor condition. "The road is terrible," said tailor Yaya Sanogo. "Even getting around is a problem." Ahead of the election, Ouattara has promised a highway linking Daloa to Yamoussoukro. "We're entering the 2025–2030 period with energy," Ouattara told Daloa residents on the campaign trail in early October. "Growth will continue, and we'll deliver more infrastructure, production and better living conditions." Ivory Coast: Abidjan developing rapidly but at what cost? 27th October,2025

PROVOCATION Venezuela has criticized the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago, which lies just off its coast, for conducting a joint military exercise with the United States and allowing a US warship to dock. "Venezuela denounces the military provocation of Trinidad and Tobago, in coordination with the CIA, aimed at provoking a war in the Caribbean," Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's administration said in a statement on Sunday. Trinidad and Tobago lies just 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) from Venezuela's coast at its closest point. In the statement posted by Executive Vice President Delcy Rodriguez on her Telegram channel, Venezuela accused the island nation of acting as a "military colony" for the United States to conduct "war across the Caribbean against Venezuela, against Colombia, and against all of South America." US destroyer docks in Trinidad just off Venezuela coast Earlier on Sunday, USS Gravely, a guided missile destroyer with US marines on board, docked in Trinidad and Tobago's capital. The warship is in the Caribbean nation for a four-day visit, which will include joint training with local defense forces. It carries advanced weapons, including long-range Tomahawk missiles, and can launch helicopters. The docking of the USS Gravely comes just days after the US defense department ordered the deployment of the world's biggest aircraft carrier, the USS Ford and its strike group, to the region. The USS Ford, which was ordered to the Caribbean on Friday, carries dozens of fighter jets along with electronic warfare jets and surveillance aircraft. Caribbean sees biggest buildup of US forces in decades The Caribbean region has seen an unusually large buildup of US military forces in the waters off Venezuela since late August. More than 10,000 US troops and dozens of fighter jets were already in the region as of mid-October, according to the New York Times. Around half of the US troops were aboard eight warships, the Times says, while the rest are based in Puerto Rico, some 800 kilometers from Venezuela's coast. The administration of President Donald Trump, who has accused Maduro of leading a drug cartel, says the buildup is part of an operation to counter drug trafficking to the US. The US has ramped up its strikes on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific that the Trump administration claims are trafficking drugs, hitting at least 10 vessels and killing at least 43 people since September. But the increase of US troops is fueling speculation that the Trump administration wants to oust Maduro. Target Venezuela: Drug war or US power grab? 27th October,2025

MIGRANT SEX OFFENDER British officials say that an Ethiopian man who was released from prison by mistake instead of being deported has been arrested after a nearly three-day manhunt. Hadush Kebatu, believed to be 38, was sentenced to a 12-month imprisonment in September for five offenses, including the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl, that he committed shortly after arriving in England by small boat. He was meant to be sent to an immigration detention center to be deported when he was mistakenly freed from Chelmsford Prison on Friday. His arrest earlier this year triggered a wave of angry anti-migrant protests in London and other cities. What do we know about the rearrest? Commander James Conway, who was in charge of the operation to find Kebatu, said the latter had been found in north London after a "diligent and fast-paced investigation." "Information from the public led officers to Finsbury Park and following a search, they located Mr. Kebatu. He was detained by police, but will be returned to the custody of the Prison Service.," he said in a statement. Britain's Secretary of State for Justice David Lammy confirmed the arrest. "Kebatu has been arrested, is now in custody and will be deported," Lammy said. "I have already ordered the immediate strengthening of release checks and a full investigation into what went wrong," he added. Show additional content? This content is part of the text you are currently reading. The provider X / Twitter provides this content and may collect your usage data directly when you click “Show content”. Always show content from X / Twitter. The circumstances surrounding Kebatu's mistaken release are under investigation. 27th October,2025

VETERAN OUATTARA SEEKS 4TH TERM The Ivory Coast went to the polls on Saturday for a presidential election, with the favorite, 83-year-old President Alassane Ouattara, seeking to extend his rule to almost two decades. Altogether five candidates are contesting the election, in which more than 8 million people are eligible to vote from a population of 32 million. Polling stations close at 6 p.m. local time (1800 GMT) and provisional results are expected within five days. A runoff will be held if no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote. Ouattara, from the Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) party, is claiming credit for nearly 15 years of economic growth and relative stability but has suggested that this will be his last campaign. He is a former international banker and deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund. Alassane Ouattara, man with sunglasses in white shirt with white hat giving thumbs-up from a vehicle against a crowd.Alassane Ouattara, man with sunglasses in white shirt with white hat giving thumbs-up from a vehicle against a crowd. Ouattara has ruled Ivory Coast since 2011Image: Joseph Zahui/Matrix Images/IMAGO Candidates ruled ineligible The run-up to the election has seen several protests after two major rivals to Ouattara were banned from the final list of candidates alongside other would-be contenders. Tidjane Thiam, a former Credit Suisse executive, and Ouattara's predecessor, Laurent Gbagbo, were both excluded from running. Thiam was barred because of his former dual nationality — he renounced his French citizenship in March, but that was ruled as being too late by a court. Gbagbo was barred from standing as president because of a criminal conviction in an Ivorian court related to the 2011 election-related war, triggered by his refusal to cede power to Ouattara. He also stood trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague over war crimes accusations in the same conflict but was acquitted. Several hundred people were arrested at protests by their supporters, raising fears of a repeat of the election violence in 2010 and 2011, in which 3,000 people died. In 2020, 100 people were killed during protests. Ahead of the election, the government put restrictions on any gatherings except for those connected with the five parties contesting the election, and deployed more than 40,000 security personnel across the country. Fact check: Rumors swirl ahead of Ivory Coast election 06:19 Who is contesting the election besides Ouattara? The four candidates challenging Ouattara include Simone Gbagbo, 76, the wife of Laurent Gbagbo and thus a former first lady, and Jean-Louis Billon, 60, a former commerce minister under Ouattara. The other two are Ahoua Don Mello, a former ally of Laurent Gbagbo, and Henriette Lagou Adjoua, very briefly a minister of social affairs, also under Gbagbo. None of the four, who have all promised to create new jobs and establish new agricultural policies, have the backing of a major political party, and analysts say they have little chance of winning. Security, social inequality as main issues Ivory Coast, the world's major producer of cocoa, is West Africa’s second-largest economy, but 37.5% of its people live in poverty. Employment is also scarce for young people. The country also suffers under spill-over violence from the neighboring countries of Mali and Burkina Faso. To counter this regional instability, Ouattara's government has raised the defense budget since 2022, stationed more troops in northern regions and purchased armored vehicles, from China among other things. 27th October,2025

BAWUMIA VISITS RAWLINGS’ FAMILY Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on Monday, October 27, visited the family of the late former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings to express his condolences and sign the book of condolence. Dr. Bawumia was accompanied by his wife, Samira Bawumia, former Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, former Education and Energy Minister Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, and former Works and Housing Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, among other dignitaries. Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings passed away on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at the Ridge Hospital in Accra. She is remembered as Ghana’s longest-serving First Lady, widely celebrated for her lifelong commitment to women’s empowerment, child welfare, and social development. Her death has sparked widespread tributes, with many describing her as a trailblazer in national advocacy and leadership. Dr. Bawumia, during the visit, commiserated with the Rawlings family and paid glowing tribute to the late First Lady’s legacy, describing her as an “inspirational figure whose impact on Ghanaian society will endure for generations.” 27th October,2025

HAIR POLICY IN SHSS Former Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum has called for a shift in how schools approach the issue of students keeping their hair, stressing that policies on hair length should be rooted in hygiene and safety rather than discipline. Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Dr. Adutwum explained that while many schools in Ghana require students to cut their hair, the motivation behind such directives must be rational and considerate of students’ well-being. “We sometimes think we are the adults and they are the children, so we force certain decisions on them without proper engagement,” he said. “We see it as discipline, but in reality, the hair issue is about hygiene and safety.” The Bosomtwe MP cited the Accra High Court’s decision in the case of Achimota School and Tyrone Marhguy, noting that the court’s position reflected the importance of fairness and understanding in school policies. According to him, the rule on haircuts was historically introduced to help maintain cleanliness and ensure students devoted time to their studies, not as a form of punishment. “When schools make rules that students must cut their hair, it’s not about discipline. It’s because not everyone has the luxury to keep their hair neat all the time,” he said. Dr. Adutwum drew comparisons with schools abroad, where students are allowed to keep long hair but must follow safety measures, especially during physical activities. “In my schools abroad, people come with long hair, but we have put measures in place to avoid injury during P.E. So we tell parents to either cut the length of the hair or tie it in a ponytail, and they always understand,” he shared. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential hopeful urged Ghanaian schools to adopt a similar approach that emphasizes communication and understanding between teachers, parents, and students. “We can make the children understand the issues because keeping long or short hair is not about discipline but hygiene and safety,” he said. Dr. Adutwum also advised that exceptions be made for students whose parents cite religious or cultural reasons for not cutting their hair. “If parents give valid reasons their child’s hair cannot be cut, any court will rule in their favour. So schools must handle these cases with flexibility,” he explained. He concluded that the focus should be on rational policy grounded in health and safety rather than enforcing uniform behavior for its own sake. “We must let the children understand it’s for their own good, not just a disciplinary measure,” Dr. Adutwum added. 27th October,2025

ESTATE DEVELOPER Real estate developer KOANS Building Solutions has firmly dismissed allegations of land grabbing and the reported use of armed landguards in parts of the Ayensuano District in the Eastern Region. The company has faced heightened public criticism after reports of clashes between some residents and its workers over land ownership surfaced. Responding to the allegations, the Chief Executive Officer of KOANS, Andrews Kofi Anokye, in an interview with Adom News, described the claims as unfounded and misleading. He stressed that the company operates strictly within legal boundaries and does not support or employ landguards. “It is a criminal act for any individual or company to use landguards. KOANS Building Solutions has never and will never engage in such activities,” Mr. Anokye said. He explained that the company only sought police protection after some residents allegedly attacked its staff while they were working on land legally acquired by KOANS. According to him, the Property Unit of the Ghana Police Service examined the company’s documents and verified the authenticity of its ownership before providing security to prevent further incidents. Mr. Anokye further clarified that KOANS has not encroached on any land currently under a court injunction. He noted that while a 720-acre parcel of land is subject to legal proceedings, the company’s ongoing development is taking place on its 1,500-acre registered property. “There is a misconception about the land in question. KOANS is developing the 1,500 acres that belong to us and are duly registered. We have not touched the 720 acres that are under court injunction,” he explained. KOANS Building Solutions, a Ghanaian-owned real estate company, is known for developing both residential and commercial projects across the country. Although the firm has previously been linked to similar disputes, management insists that all its land acquisitions are legally documented and properly registered. 27th October,2025

REGSEC Residents of Gulumpe in the Kintampo Municipality of the Bono East Region have received relief items following the imposition of a curfew on the community after recent communal clashes. The curfew, which was declared by the Ministry of the Interior, has forced several resident, particularly women and children, to flee the area in search of food and shelter, while those remaining are only allowed outdoor activities between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. To support affected families, the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), in collaboration with the Bono East Regional Coordinating Council, presented relief items including bags of rice, vegetable oil, second-hand clothing, and plastic containers to residents. The Kintampo Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Isaac Donkor, led the presentation on behalf of the Bono East Regional Minister, Francis Owusu-Antwi, and assured the community that their plea for the curfew to be reviewed would be relayed to the Regional Security Council (REGSEC). Mr. Donkor urged both factions involved in the conflict to maintain peace and continue cooperating with security agencies to restore normalcy. The Bono East Regional NADMO Director, Akwasi Lampor, explained that the intervention was necessary to ease the hardship of residents and appealed to those who fled the town to return, assuring them of safety and ongoing efforts to sustain peace. The curfew was imposed after violent clashes between Konkomba and Gonja youth groups, which left several people injured and disrupted economic activities in the town once known for its bustling trade and farming life. 27th October,2025