The Republic of Guinea Bissau

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Some basic information about Guinea Bissau

Background:

Since independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has experienced considerable political and military upheaval. In 1980, a military coup established authoritarian dictator Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA as president. Despite setting a path to a market economy and multiparty system, VIEIRA's regime was characterized by the suppression of political opposition and the purging of political rivals. Several coup attempts through the 1980s and early 1990s failed to unseat him. In 1994 VIEIRA was elected president in the country's first free elections. A military mutiny and resulting civil war in 1998 eventually led to VIEIRA's ouster in May 1999. In February 2000, a transitional government turned over power to opposition leader Kumba YALA, after he was elected president in transparent polling. In September 2003, after only three years in office, YALA was ousted by the military in a bloodless coup, and businessman Henrique ROSA was sworn in as interim president. In 2005, former President VIEIRA was re-elected president pledging to pursue economic development and national reconciliation.

Population:
1,472,780 (July 2007 est.)

Ethnic groups:
African (includes Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%)
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 50%, Muslim 45%, Christian 5%
Languages:
Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages

Economy - overview:
One of the 10 poorest countries in the world, Guinea-Bissau depends mainly on farming and fishing. Cashew crops have increased remarkably in recent years, and the country now ranks sixth in cashew production. Guinea-Bissau exports fish and seafood along with small amounts of peanuts, palm kernels, and timber. Rice is the major crop and staple food. However, intermittent fighting between Senegalese-backed government troops and a military junta destroyed much of the country's infrastructure and caused widespread damage to the economy in 1998; the civil war led to a 28% drop in GDP that year, with partial recovery in 1999-2002. Before the war, trade reform and price liberalization were the most successful part of the country's structural adjustment program under IMF sponsorship. The tightening of monetary policy and the development of the private sector had also begun to reinvigorate the economy. Because of high costs, the development of petroleum, phosphate, and other mineral resources is not a near-term prospect. However, offshore oil prospecting has begun and could lead to much-needed revenue in the long run. The inequality of income distribution is one of the most extreme in the world. The government and international donors continue to work out plans to forward economic development from a lamentably low base. In December 2003, the World Bank, IMF, and UNDP were forced to step in to provide emergency budgetary support in the amount of $107 million for 2004, representing over 80% of the total national budget. Government drift and indecision, however, resulted in continued low growth in 2002-06.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.244 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$295.1 million (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
2.9% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$900 (2006 est.)

Exports - partners:
India 72%, Nigeria 17.1%, Ecuador 4% (2005)

Imports - partners:
Italy 24.8%, Senegal 18.2%, Portugal 15.4%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.2% (2005)




The capital Bissau

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new building

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another world ( a hotel in Bissau)

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Bissau´s main street

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Carnival in Bissau

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mmmhhhh, mega-prawns

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...TO BE CONTINUED

That country is a real mess. Huge tourist potential. Because of its small size it should be theoretically easier to develop. They have a rare species of sea hippo there too. The carnival photos were certainly interesting.

Good pictures Matt. Some of their streets in the capital could use paved roads, also the one's that are paved seem to have pot holes and a whole lot of it. The carnival is interesting. I wonder how the beaches are on the coast. Observing GE it also appears their alot of marshlands along the coast.


The Pygmy Hippopotamus that "popa" mentioned.

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Pathetic! With its small population, nice coastlines, good weather for agriculture, GB should've been lightyears from where it is now. But oh well 1+1= 1 over there nuff said.

wow!

Pathetic! With its small population, nice coastlines, good weather for agriculture, GB should've been lightyears from where it is now. But oh well 1+1= 1 over there nuff said.

Haha my thoughts exactly. Apparently 1+1=1 in Bissau so I do not think growth is possible. But on a more serious note, the photos show a decaying, stagnant, and under-developed country. Which is not surprising, considering that Guinea Bissau is one of the poorest countries in the world. However, the potential is there for all to see.

A better shot of the new parliament building built by the Chinese ( a reoccuring theme it seems)

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Some random pictures...

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Regards

what the crap? why is it that many west african major cities are just down right run down while they have endless potential and the population is 'managable': bissau, bamako, freetown, Ouagadougou, niamey, conakry, lome, monrovia i am talking about just simple basic order and cleanliness like abuja atleast in the C.B.D's. i believe in african power and potential all is needed is just some effort and sacrifice. imagine if west africa and africa was dotted by several clean peaceful cities. i hope it happens in my lifetime. go west africa, go mama africa

what the crap? why is it that many west african major cities are just down right run down while they have endless potential and the population is 'managable': bissau, bamako, freetown, Ouagadougou, niamey, conakry, lome, monrovia i am talking about just simple basic order and cleanliness like abuja atleast in the C.B.D's. i believe in african power and potential all is needed is just some effort and sacrifice. imagine if west africa and africa was dotted by several clean peaceful cities. i hope it happens in my lifetime. go west africa, go mama africa

Nairoberry, Well, I would leave out Ouagadougou and Lomé in this context because they look comparatively nice and "orderly".

As for Freetown, a war destroyed the city!:bash:

Niamey is too poor!:ohno:

Conakry, normally it should have been heaven on earth and among the top-leading countries in Africa (it is a "geological scandal", the country is immensely rich in natural ressources) but it has been ruined by blood-thirsty self-centred dictators that invented weird ideologies just to keep themselves in power starting from Sékou Touré to the "living corpse" that still clinches to power!

Monrovia, give a "big kiss" to Charles Taylor, the personified satan that ruined the country!:ohno:

Fuck, it is so frustrating, my only solace is that the furture will and can only get better!:)

Thanks for the info. i like the last sentence, i think it speaks for millions of africans

I think Guinea-Bissau could definitely pick up quickly and become one of the best countries in West Africa, given such a small number of population and such a small area. The most important is for the government to have a strong and intelligent leader to lead the whole nation into the 21st century. Perhaps one of the major changes should be having its population speaking English while retaining the Portuguese tradition. I know Rwanda in Central Africa, which used to be a Francophone country, has made English one of the official languages of the country along with French. So could Guinea-Bissau.:banana:

I think Guinea-Bissau could definitely pick up quickly and become one of the best countries in West Africa, given such a small number of population and such a small area. The most important is for the government to have a strong and intelligent leader to lead the whole nation into the 21st century. Perhaps one of the major changes should be having its population speaking English while retaining the Portuguese tradition. I know Rwanda in Central Africa, which used to be a Francophone country, has made English one of the official languages of the country along with French. So could Guinea-Bissau.:banana:

Rwanda it's the TUSTI tribe that used to live in Uganda wich is ENGLISH speaking country it self. and they took power from the HUTU whom were FRANCOPHONE and even the FRANCOPHONE HUTU use to be smart as the TUSTI when it come to runing the country. RWANDA recieve 60 percent of the budget from America and UK. including looted resources from congo . but the fact is they know how to use it.

It has nothing to do with Francophone or Anglophone ,or Portugese speaking tradition it's simply the people' s mentality.

Look at how Portugese Angola and Mozambique are doing, or Cote d'Ivoire and Gabon so called Francophone traditions. But it's real English speaking are more organised than most FRENCH speaking. FRENCH are more sociallist than english . Congo already swiching from socialist more capitalistic ideas.congo went socialist economy in the 70s didn't work because the people are more entrpreneurialy minded .

You are partly right. I know the government of Guinea-Bissau is trying to attract inward investment by selling its citizenship to prospective foreign nationals or investors, particularly those from Asian countries or economies such as Hong Kong. This is a way to make quick money, but is definitely NOT a long-term strategy to stimulate economic growth. I think a strong government leadership is absolutely essential if the country wishes to revitalise its economy.

They need oil. :lol:


j/k

I don't know why you guys pick on 1+1=1; there's probably a very nice story behind it.

There were actually a number of things to admire here - lots of smiling faces - seems like a fun place.

I love this country !! Looks fresh and undiscovered. I really thing about trip to Gwinea Bissau but its far , far away from my home :( buuu!

1 nation+ 1people= 1 country how is that hard to understand. Plus Guinea Bissau fought to the teeth for independance the portuguese even left with the last electric pole when they were kicked out. And if you ever meet a person from Guinea Bissau this people are business driven, I got to go there nothing like round black nipples loving the woman!!!

Look at how Portugese Angola and Mozambique are doing, or Cote d'Ivoire and Gabon so called Francophone traditions. But it's real English speaking are more organised than most FRENCH speaking. FRENCH are more sociallist than english . Congo already swiching from socialist more capitalistic ideas.congo went socialist economy in the 70s didn't work because the people are more entrpreneurialy minded .

Hmmm wait a moment and think twice.

Mozambique grows at a very high rate among the highest in Africa since the war ended in 1992. Chissano was one of Africa´s best presidents, I have great respect for him!

2.) Angola is rebuilding but it is doing it very fast....it has one of the world´s fastest growth rates, in case it should have escaped your notice.

3.) Gabon´s population is 40% foreign....and the fact that thousands still make their way into the country each month, many do risk their lives on the open sea just shows to me that it still holds a lot of attraction for people seeking "riches" in Gabon. Howver, Pierre Mamboundou (an intelectual and charismatic leader) who is Bongo´s fiercest oppositional figure said that Bongo is far too lenient and soft as far as immigration is concerned, he said recently in an inetrview...in case he gets elected, measure will be very tough for immigrants to enter the country (and you might know that immigration procedures are already tough over there).

3.) Côte d´ivoire was Africa´s capitalist model -economy, go and read older books 60´s, 70´s and 80´s about economy in africa

The fact that C.I. grew to be Africa´third largest economy...just based on agriculture (until 1999, year the crisis began) just shows how strong or in your mind how "bad" its basic structures are.

Côte d´ivoire´s state official still receive their monthly salary regularly (something that even surprised me...despite almost ten years of crisis)

Its port is still Sub-Saharan Africa´s second largest and most modern behind Durban...it currently gets expanded for a billion dollar!!

The country - despite years of crisis - still has regular urban electricity supply!!! Power cuty are NOT the order of the day

and C.I. received more foreign direct investment than its neigbouring democratically peaceful countries last year!!!


As for Congo-Brazzaville in the 70´s, they were highly opposed to French presence officially ...they wanted to deconstruct the French-model by replacing it with a marxist socialist one that failed miserably as we all know. This was not the fault of the French people but of Congo´s incompetent and populist leadership!

Hmmm wait a moment and think twice.

Mozambique grows at a very high rate among the highest in Africa since the war ended in 1992. Chissano was one of Africa´s best presidents, I have great respect for him!

2.) Angola is rebuilding but it is doing it very fast....it has one of the world´s fastest growth rates, in case it should have escaped your notice.

3.) Gabon´s population is 40% foreign....and the fact that thousands still make their way into the country each month, many do risk their lives on the open sea just shows to me that it still holds a lot of attraction for people seeking "riches" in Gabon. Howver, Pierre Mamboundou (an intelectual and charismatic leader) who is Bongo´s fiercest oppositional figure said that Bongo is far too lenient and soft as far as immigration is concerned, he said recently in an inetrview...in case he gets elected, measure will be very tough for immigrants to enter the country (and you might know that immigration procedures are already tough over there).

3.) Côte d´ivoire was Africa´s capitalist model -economy, go and read older books 60´s, 70´s and 80´s about economy in africa

The fact that C.I. grew to be Africa´third largest economy...just based on agriculture (until 1999, year the crisis began) just shows how strong or in your mind how "bad" its basic structures are.

Côte d´ivoire´s state official still receive their monthly salary regularly (something that even surprised me...despite almost ten years of crisis)

Its port is still Sub-Saharan Africa´s second largest and most modern behind Durban...it currently gets expanded for a billion dollar!!

The country - despite years of crisis - still has regular urban electricity supply!!! Power cuty are NOT the order of the day

and C.I. received more foreign direct investment than its neigbouring democratically peaceful countries last year!!!


As for Congo-Brazzaville in the 70´s, they were highly opposed to French presence officially ...they wanted to deconstruct the French-model by replacing it with a marxist socialist one that failed miserably as we all know. This was not the fault of the French people but of Congo´s incompetent and populist leadership!

You are right on that one. both congo and then Zaire all went for marxist-style and led to corruption and mismangement. but the good thing they have learned from past mistakes and they are both going in the capitalist directions. they couldn't keep up with socialism. because those governement authorities themselves where entrepreneurs and where runing things capitalist ways. now they are starting to end the energy , insurance, mining , banking monoply and it 's going private since they find out that private knows how to manage things. The country is going federal system after decades of centrelisation wich is supported by more than 85% of the people.

Back to topic. i meant to say to YOUZA that it doesn't matter whrther you are Fortugese , French or English speaking country . All any country needs is a good leadership plus people's mentality.

One of the best secret beautiful place in West Africa the Bijagos Archipel near Bissau capital.
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The new Central Bank office
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the city
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You are right on that one. both congo and then Zaire all went for marxist-style and led to corruption and mismangement. but the good thing they have learned from past mistakes and they are both going in the capitalist directions. they couldn't keep up with socialism. because those governement authorities themselves where entrepreneurs and where runing things capitalist ways. now they are starting to end the energy , insurance, mining , banking monoply and it 's going private since they find out that private knows how to manage things. The country is going federal system after decades of centrelisation wich is supported by more than 85% of the people.

Back to topic. i meant to say to YOUZA that it doesn't matter whrther you are Fortugese , French or English speaking country . All any country needs is a good leadership plus people's mentality.

I entirely subscribe to what you said! Strong but good and technocratic leadership (a strong rule of law system that won´t be developed overnight) will lead Africa to levels that will put big smiles to all of our faces! I do hope that we will be alive when this happens....really I want to see poverty gone ERASED from Africa´s soil, it pains to look at it..and makes me angry!

You are right on that one. both congo and then Zaire all went for marxist-style and led to corruption and mismangement. but the good thing they have learned from past mistakes and they are both going in the capitalist directions. they couldn't keep up with socialism. because those governement authorities themselves where entrepreneurs and where runing things capitalist ways. now they are starting to end the energy , insurance, mining , banking monoply and it 's going private since they find out that private knows how to manage things. The country is going federal system after decades of centrelisation wich is supported by more than 85% of the people.

Back to topic. i meant to say to YOUZA that it doesn't matter whrther you are Fortugese , French or English speaking country . All any country needs is a good leadership plus people's mentality.
But do remember please that language is part of culture, and those who speak English may have very different way of thinking and dealing from those who speak a different language such as French or German. English is today's No.1 language of communication, commerce and management in the world, and speaking English does give a country and its people unique advantage to excel in the world today. In sum, I love English-speaking people, and welcome any government policy to shift its national or official tongue to be English (which retaining their own language and tradition).

But do remember please that language is part of culture, and those who speak English may have very different way of thinking and dealing from those who speak a different language such as French or German. English is today's No.1 language of communication, commerce and management in the world, and speaking English does give a country and its people unique advantage to excel in the world today. In sum, I love English-speaking people, and welcome any government policy to shift its national or official tongue to be English (which retaining their own language and tradition).

Well ,i understand .... but it's not that easy to change. it will take a generations to change to be able to adapt a new language. what Rwanda did was that the Tusti tribe that was living in Uganda which is a English speaking country . That Tusti tribe took power through a rebelion and overthrew the French speaking HUTU tribe , plus the Tusti whom use to live in Congo and Rwanda itself are French speakers .that's why they use both languages.

Yes English is no. 1 language of communication and commerce , but that are not enough reasons to why you have to change . There is many countries that are successful or doing great without English as an official.

What they can do is to adopt English as second Official Language or just make it official along the others.

But do remember please that language is part of culture, and those who speak English may have very different way of thinking and dealing from those who speak a different language such as French or German. English is today's No.1 language of communication, commerce and management in the world, and speaking English does give a country and its people unique advantage to excel in the world today. In sum, I love English-speaking people, and welcome any government policy to shift its national or official tongue to be English (which retaining their own language and tradition).

NEEEEEEEEEEEEVVVVVVVVVVVVVVERRRRRRRRRR!!!!

What a terrible world this would be....everybody barking in English.....:puke:

The use of English is tied to US imperialims (a fomer colony of England) that was handed over to the States when British colonialism ended!!!

I can definitely bet that Guinea Bissau will become a well-developed nation in Africa if it agrees to shift its official language into English rather than Portuguese. Then it will receive lots of financial aid from the UK and USA, etc., making it a member of the British Commonwealth to share its successful stories with other nations just like the Gambia, its close neighbour. Look at Mozambique, a Portuguese colony. Why did it join the British Commonwealth?

I can definitely bet that Guinea Bissau will become a well-developed nation in Africa if it agrees to shift its official language into English rather than Portuguese. Then it will receive lots of financial aid from the UK and USA, etc., making it a member of the British Commonwealth to share its successful stories with other nations just like the Gambia, its close neighbour. Look at Mozambique, a Portuguese colony. Why did it join the British Commonwealth?
are you kidding or you are just retarded?

Guinea Bissau until recently didnt even had a policy for Portuguese, it promoted the local (Portuguese) creole. Now that the creole is widespread all creole structures are shifting to (standard) Portuguese, that also has to do that it has now close ties with Portugal and very strong lusophone bias, and that will help it to be a more united country, like Angola.

Guinea-Bissau problem is that is has a very large variety of peoples/religions in a small area.

Mozambique joined the commonwealth because it has close ties with South Africa and is not a success story, neither it shifted to English. Angola is a real success story. And it occurred fast, it is impressive. Until recently it was equivalent to Mozambique, economy, population, etc. Now it is very far ahead and a sizable economy. Mozambique still has the economy of a middle sized European city.

I can definitely bet that Guinea Bissau will become a well-developed nation in Africa if it agrees to shift its official language into English rather than Portuguese. Then it will receive lots of financial aid from the UK and USA, etc., making it a member of the British Commonwealth to share its successful stories with other nations just like the Gambia, its close neighbour. Look at Mozambique, a Portuguese colony. Why did it join the British Commonwealth?

What are you saying?

Is Angola, Mozambique , Senegal , Gabon , Cote d'Ivoire , Change form Potugese and French to English?

Mozambique joined the commonwealth because all it neighbors and Most of the SADC region bloc are English speaking . But did it change the Language from Porutgese to English?

Speaking English does't mean your economy is superior or healthier or richer than other speakers.

You are not making any sense at all.:ohno::ohno:

I can definitely bet that Guinea Bissau will become a well-developed nation in Africa if it agrees to shift its official language into English rather than Portuguese. Then it will receive lots of financial aid from the UK and USA, etc., making it a member of the British Commonwealth to share its successful stories with other nations just like the Gambia, its close neighbour. Look at Mozambique, a Portuguese colony. Why did it join the British Commonwealth?

Just give me a minute until I pick myself up off the floor! Where do thou hail from, my lord? From high-brow Eton and Oxford educated British 16th aristocracy? Brush that nasty thought aside once and for all!

Mozambique entering Commonwealth?:lol::bash::lol:

And why does Ghana - one of Africa´s most prominent country of Shakepearean tongue + a full blown democracy - wants to enter la Francophonie at all costs?

I can definitely bet that Guinea Bissau will become a well-developed nation in Africa if it agrees to shift its official language into English rather than Portuguese. Then it will receive lots of financial aid from the UK and USA, etc., making it a member of the British Commonwealth to share its successful stories with other nations just like the Gambia, its close neighbour. Look at Mozambique, a Portuguese colony. Why did it join the British Commonwealth?

Just give me a minute until I pick myself up off the floor! Where do thou hail from, my lord? From high-brow Eton and Oxford educated British 16th aristocracy? Brush that nasty thought of yours aside once and for all!

Mozambique entering Commonwealth?:lol::bash::lol:

And why does Ghana - one of Africa´s most prominent country of Shakepearean tongue + a full blown democracy - wants to enter la Francophonie at all costs?

in fact, that would create serious problems in the country, especially the mixed-raced or specific cities in the country, it would deepen its problem. And like I said, GUinea Bissau is very enthusiastic country in CPLP (Portuguese-speaking countries community), it has made pressure for the creation of a military union, it opened various Portuguese languages schools around the country, etc. It is the reverse, it knows that the language is pretty useful for the country. Not only English is a useful business language.

I tryed to see if youza was just joking or was just being ironic... at first i thought that, but got the feeling that he was serious after reading another post of his. :nuts:

in fact, that would create serious problems in the country, especially the mixed-raced or specific cities in the country, it would deepen its problem. And like I said, GUinea Bissau is very enthusiastic country in CPLP (Portuguese-speaking countries community), it has made pressure for the creation of a military union, it opened various Portuguese languages schools around the country, etc. It is the reverse, it knows that the language is pretty useful for the country. Not only English is a useful business language.

I tryed to see if youza was just joking or was just being ironic... at first i thought that, but got the feeling that he was serious after reading another post of his.

I DO AGREE...Brazil will be an economic GIANT by 2030...and even today living standards are already the best and highest of all BRIC countries.

Angola is investing in Guinea Bissau (in mines and other sectors).

Brazil, Angola, Portugal , Cabo verde..and I think Mozambique are closely linked countries but outsiders don´t understand it OR underrate it!

Matt, Mozambique joined the Commonwealth.


Ghana, wanting to join Francophone countries "at all cost"??? What planet are you living on? The truth is, the Francophone countries in West Africa will learn English eventually, NOT the other way round.

Ghana, wanting to join Francophone countries "at all cost"??? What planet are you living on? The truth is, the Francophone countries in West Africa will learn English eventually, NOT the other way round.

popa1980. I wonder where you live, certainly not on mother earth.

What are the countries that Ghana is surrounded by?

French or Englsih-speaking?

Ghana wants to join the francphonie, habibi!

Interview given by Mme Brigitte Girardin, Minister Delegate for Cooperation, Development and Francophony, to “TV5” (excerpts)

Paris, 24 September 2006

(…)

OIF/FRENCH LANGUAGE

Q. – As regards Francophony, as I was saying, it’s the Francophone Summit in Bucharest, (…) more and more people are learning French in the world, over 80 million now, there are increasing numbers of them, so is French making progress?

THE MINISTER – We’re told that over the past ten years 16 million people have started learning French. (…)

OIF MEMBERSHIP/EU

Q. – (…) Thailand, Ukraine, Ghana are knocking at the door, they all want to come in.

THE MINISTER – There’s indeed a bit of a rush to join the OIF [Organization internationale de la Francophonie – international Francophone organization], which shows that the Francophone movement is both a modern and attractive idea because it’s been able to evolve. At the start, we thought it would be a sort of French-style Commonwealth. There were essentially African countries linked by a common history and heritage.

From the 1990s onwards, we’ve seen the entry of the European countries and we have to remember their strong Francophone heritage.

Q. – And it’s also very symbolic that this summit is taking place in Romania!

THE MINISTER – Absolutely, and it’s no coincidence that we’re organizing this Francophone summit in Romania, since when Romania and Bulgaria join Europe a majority of European Union member States will be OIF members. You can clearly see the way things have been moving the past few years. Today we’ve got almost as many European States as African States in the OIF, which shows that the movement has been able to evolve and, above all, that it champions the need for cultural diversity.

POLITICAL FORCE/CULTURAL DIVERSITY/EDUCATION/UNEO

(…) Going beyond this, (…) Francophony is a political force and this is, I believe, what makes it attractive.

Q. – A force for resolving conflicts, for example, a force for defending human rights?

THE MINISTER – Indeed, for defending human rights, for defending democracy, I believe that in Bucharest, when the heads of State have political discussions on all these issues, they will be keen to put the spotlight on the countries emerging from crisis. For example, where today are the strongest United Nations peacekeeping operations? In DRC, Côte d’Ivoire and Haiti: three Francophone countries. It’s there that we have the largest UN contingents. Clearly, if we want to be effective in these peacekeeping operations, we have to send French-speaking UN forces.

There is this political mission and the fact that Francophony is having an impact on all the international debates – look at what happened in UNESCO, the convention on cultural diversity, that’s a battle…

Q. – The digital divide is fundamental.

THE MINISTER – …which the 63 OIF members fought and won. And at the UN for example, the OIF countries are supporting President Chirac’s initiative on the creation of a United Nations Environment Organization.

This political force is increasingly active and I believe this is a significant trend. Moreover, let me say that there’s a third objective, after European Francophony and the need to strengthen our political missions: education, which is the theme in Bucharest. We mustn’t forget that the OIF is also an area of solidarity, cooperation programmes, and we want to put the spotlight on education using this new information technology, which shows that we are also geared to the future. Indeed, the digital divide between North and South must be bridged./.



La Francophonie et le Ghana

Par M. Abdou Diouf, Secrétaire général de l’Organisation internationale de la Francophonie

Grâce à ses efforts dans la promotion de la langue française et à son adhésion aux valeurs de démocratie et de respect des droit, de l’homme, le Ghana est devenu membre associé de 'Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) au Sommet de Bucarest, en septembre 2006. Cette adhésion revêt pour notre organisation une importance à plus d’un titre.
D’abord, parce qu’elle émane d’un pays anglophone, membre du Commonwealth, et témoigne des relations étroites qu’entretiennent les deux organisations. Pour rappel, le Commonwealth regroupe 53 pays et l'Organisation internationale de la Francophonie compte 55 Etats et gouvernements, et 13 observateurs. Dix Etats appartiennent aux deux institutions : Cameroun, Canada, Chypre, Dominique, Ghana, Maurice, Mozambique, Sainte-Lucie, Seychelles et Vanuatu. Et la Francophonie a engagé, depuis six ans, une collaboration étroite avec des aires linguistiques comme la Lusophonie, l’Hispanophonie, l’Arabophonie, l’Union latine et le Commonwealth. Ensuite, parce que l’intérêt du Ghana pour la Francophonie ne date pas d’hier. Enclave anglophone entourée de pays francophones, il est un modèle de diversité culturelle et linguistique : anglais, français et langues nationales cohabitent harmonieusement. Si la réalité de la francophonie au Ghana est avérée, les autorités multiplient leurs efforts pour promouvoir notre langue commune. En 2005, l’enseignement de notre langue, résultat d’une politique volontariste de promotion du français comme langue d’intégration régionale, était suivi par quelque 350 000 enfants, étudiants et adultes. Au-delà du système scolaire et universitaire, on parle français au sein de nombreuses entreprises et dans certaines institutions publiques. Mieux, à la prochaine rentrée scolaire de septembre, le français se verra même accorder une place privilégiée en devenant progressivement obligatoire et généralisé dans tous les collèges, puis dans les lycées, au fur et à mesure que des professeurs seront formés. L’Organisation internationale de la Francophonie s’associe, avec d’autres partenaires internationaux, à cet effort de formation des enseignants, en s’appuyant notamment sur le Réseau de français langue étrangère (RECFLEA). En outre, dans le cadre de notre projet de promotion de l’usage du français au sein des institutions multilatérales africaines, plusieurs diplomates ghanéens ont bénéficié d’une formation au français des relations internationales organisée par l’OIF à Lomé en mars et en avril 2007, et d’autres devraient y prendre part lors des prochaines séances.
Acteur majeur de la région, le Ghana est un membre actif de la CEDAO et son Président, John Kufor, assure actuellement avec brio la présidence de l’Union africaine. A ce titre, on l’a remarqué aux côtés des Chefs d’Etat du G8 en Allemagne, au début du mois de juin. Dans ses efforts incessants pour la paix et la stabilité de la région, pour promouvoir l’Etat de droit et la démocratie, il sait qu’il peut également compter sur le soutien de l’Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. La Francophonie a besoin du Ghana, comme celui-ci de la Francophonie pour élargir leurs horizons respectifs et contribuer à promouvoir la diversité culturelle et linguistique dans le monde. La langue française est en effet, pour nous, le moyen privilégié de nous rencontrer, de nous mieux connaître, de nous mieux comprendre, le moyen de travailler ensemble, au service des plus démunis, et plus largement, au service d’une certaine vision de l’homme, d’une certaine approche du monde et du bien commun mondial.

http://www.lalettrediplomatique.fr/contribution_detail.php?id=20&idrub=67&idrubprod=262




Interview given by Mrs Girardin to the "Le Figaro" newspaper (Paris, 15 February 2006)

La Francophonie has the wind in its sails. (...). The OIF has refocused its activity to increase the effectiveness of its traditional missions, particularly education. It has the power to attract new members, as is shown by the candidature of Ghana, who wants to join us.

http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/france-priorities_1/francophony-french-language_1113/francophony_1932/statements_3438/index.html

And I bet that Ghana would shed its unstable currency to join a stable and Africa´s only working true monetary Union, CFA, too...

Should Ghana join the CFA zone?

Kwasi Yeboah- Konadu , 11/10/2006



It is a very grave matter that must be debated seriously by and among very sober people with interest in public policy.

In that debate, participants should bear in mind that the discussions ought to address several tough issues and that creative answers should be offered in their regard.

First and foremost, it must be understood at the very beginning that Ghana would be required to negotiate terms of entry by the existing members of the CFA Zone. The situation could be akin to the protracted negotiations and frustrations that characterised Britain' s decision to join the European Economic Community against the posture of the government of France because of a number of factors, including Britain´s attempt to sabotage the nascent Community.

In a similar vein it can be envisaged that some of the existing members of the CFA Zone may have particular reasons for frustrating Ghana´s membership application.

The fact that Ghana´s admission would reinforce the dominance of Cote d�Ivoire and Senegal could imaginably attract the hostility of the smaller countries such as Togo, Benin, Mali, etc.

Conversely, it could be forseen that our membership application would be frustrated by countries such as Cote d´Ivoire and Senegal who might think that the admission of Ghana could dilute the influence that they might be wielding and therefore should be opposed.

Some could even see Ghana´s membership as a Trojan horse for Nigeria (even though Dr Gockel suggests that Nigeria should simultaneously apply to join) or some other external powers.

Secondly, joining the CFA zone would imply considerable loss of sovereignty over our control of our monetary and fiscal policies (same as being a member of the WAMZ, any way).

The difference here though would be whether Ghana would be prepared to accept the role that France has always played in the affairs of the CFA zones of both Western and Central Africa.

As the external guarantor of the convertibility and stability of the CFA franc, France is widely known to exercise considerable leverage on the fiscal and monetary (and some would even add foreign) policies of the member countries of the CFA zone, sometimes against the real national interests of those countries.

Under this arrangement, which many in Ghana would readily characterise as neo-colonialist, the reserves of each member state of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (as well as of their counterparts in Central Africa) are held in an "operations account with the French treasury. The Zone is also required to hold external assets at least equal to 20 percent of the West Africa Central Bank´s (BCEAO) sight deposits.

In exchange, the Zone countries have over the years obtained substantial financial resources in the form of budgetary support, including significantly the regular payment of the salaries of civil servants in some of those countries.


Additionally it is also believed strongly that France facilitated the CFA franc´s fixed peg to the Euro when the latter was launched.

The fundamental question we need to pose in any national discourse is whether Ghana will be willing to cede almost all its policy space in the monetary and fiscal sectors to an external power(s), big or small, in addition to the natural loss of sovereignty to a regional authority that underpins any regional arrangement?

Put differently, will Ghana be willing to surrender its authority to make certain fundamental policy decisions to the Central Bank of West Africa (BCEAO), which will act as an agency of restraint over our macroeconomic policies generally, as a logical consequence of our decision to join the CFA zone and ominously shall we be prepared to subordinate our policy making authority to the French treasury?

A historical recall in this regard may be appropriate, to the extent that one of the major reasons that informed Dr Nkrumah´s decision to pull out of the West African Currency Board when we attained independence was precisely to ensure that the British treasury had no control over our policies.

It would be such an irony if by opting to join the CFA zone we would be willing to substitute British control over our policy in this regard for a French control.

That area of any potential national debate on whether or not we should join the CFA zone should be a very exciting flash point indeed.

Additionally, we shall have to address a number of policy questions as the debate unfolds.

We shall, for example, determine what effect, if any, will our membership of the WAEMU have on fiscal discipline in this country?

What sort of fiscal policies shall we be allowed to pursue in order to achieve other legitimate national objectives such as our ability to cushion ourselves from external shocks to the Ghanaian economy?

Since we shall be operating in the zone, literally as a stranger (being the only Anglophone member country), membership in all likelihood is bound to weaken our government�s strategic influence over the union against the background of our experience in ECOWAS where issues are, rather unfortunately seen from either the Anglophone or the Francophone perspective, and as naturally our concerns may not tally with those of other member countries whose individual national circumstances may vary widely from ours.

For reasons of space and time, this contribution does not address important considerations such as the possible effects that our membership could have on our trade with other members of the union and what other possible effects that such a decision could engender in respect of our wider international trade relations with non-regional trading partners.

It is a critical area that needs to be thoroughly investigated by experts.

What impact would such a decision have on our bilateral relations with Nigeria, by far our most prized partner in the region? That is another area that would call for serious interventions, especially from our foreign policy experts.

Given the importance of the question raised by Dr Gockel, it is imperative that the matter be subjected to a vigorous and sensible debate across the country - in the press, in Parliament, in academia, in the business community, etc so that we can arrive at a national consensus that can endure.

At the end of the day, we may conceivably conclude that our best interests would be best served by pursuing the launch of the second monetary zone.

Whatever the decision, whether or not to abort our efforts in that direction in favour of joining the CFA Zone should be predicated on a rigorous national debate, devoid of excessive politics, the superficial and pedestrian stuff that we are intoxicated with by the generally and intellectually very shallow so-described social commentators who do not get tired of running from one radio station and one television station to the other every morning choking the airwaves.

http://www.thestatesmanonline.com/pages/news_detail.php?newsid=909&section=7




Ghana should join CFA zone, not W/A monetary union

Ayuure Kapini Atafori , 03/10/2006

Ghana should abandon its plans to join the proposed West African Monetary Zone, which has seen its commencement date postponed several times, and rather join the CFA monetary zone since she stands to gain more from it, given its location, a leading economist has suggested.

"It is not economically viable for Ghana to join the West African Monetary Zone. To me, we should rather join the CFA zone, Augustine Gockel, a senior lecturer at the Department of Economics of the University of Ghana told a forum at Legon, Accra, on Friday.

Dr Gockel argued that since Ghana is surrounded by French-speaking CFA zone countries, it makes economic sense for it to be a CFA holder in order to transact business easily with its neighbours.

Dr Gockel's call is quite significant, especially coming on the heels of Ghana"s admission into 'La Francophonie the Commonwealth of French speaking nations.

Ghana´s joining of La Francophonie is of significant strategic mutual benefit because of our geographic, historic and even blood ties with Francophone countries. Our lives are intimately linked with the French world, particularly in our sub-region and this strategic association would give a big boost to addressing some of our mutual concerns, Foreign Minister Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo told The Statesman from Bucharest, the venue for the association´s summit last Thursday.

In an interview with The Statesman later, Dr Gockel contended that based on the optimum currency area notion and practice, countries that are contiguous will immensely benefit from trade, commerce and industry when they circulate a common currency. �We trade more with Burkina Faso, Cote d�Ivoire and Togo. In fact, Togo is our biggest trading partner. While it is good to have some kind of arrangement with Nigeria, it is far from Ghana and there is very little cross-border trade.

He submitted that when Ghana joins the CFA zone, its market will be widened so that it can take advantage of economies of scale in the sub-region.

He averred that since Nigeria is also surrounded by CFA-spending francophone states, it is economically prudent for it to join the CFA zone rather than the West African Monetary Union.

He suggested that CFA should be more preferred than the proposed Eco of the union. Is it purely polarisation? Anglophone against francophone? If we want to have a common currency, why not join them at once in the creation of a common currency.�

Dr Gockel noted that the European Union started with private sector-led trade before it developed a common currency; but the English-speaking West African nations want to begin with a common currency. That, to him, is not the best way to commence a common currency for the sub-region.

The forum was organised by the Legon Economics Students Society in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to provide a platform for the academic community to contribute towards the preparation of the 2007 budget.

The theme of the forum was, Expectations in 2007 Budget - Inputs from Students and the Intellectual Community.

http://www.thestatesmanonline.com/pages/news_detail.php?newsid=780&section=2

Guinea-Bissau should become an overseas territory of China, so that China could inject more funds and human resources to help rebuild up the nation. Of course, Chinese would become one of the official languages of that country, along with Portuguese, just like Macau. The black Africans cannot manage this country well. What they can do to get rich is to sell its useless passport and citizenship to foreign investors.

I hope to see improvements someday soon