Dr. Umar Johnson, an American psychologist and global activist, has been granted Ghanaian citizenship. This is part of Ghana’s initiative to reconnect Africans living abroad with their heritage, specifically through programs like the “Year of Return” and “Beyond the Return”. These initiatives aim to encourage members of the African diaspora to visit, settle, and invest in Ghana.

Ghana’s democratic journey, particularly highlighted by the leadership of Jerry John Rawlings, has been a complex narrative of transformation from military rule to a multi-party democracy.

Rawlings initially came to power through a coup in 1981 and led the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) until the reintroduction of multi-party democracy in 1992.

His transition from a revolutionary to a democratic leader is significant, as he won the presidency in the 1992 and 1996 elections under the newly formed National Democratic Congress (NDC), demonstrating a shift from his earlier stance against multi-party systems to embracing them when it became clear they were favored by the populace.

The discourse on Ghana’s democracy often revolves around the quality and integrity of its electoral processes. Ghana has conducted multiple elections since the re-establishment of democracy, with peaceful transitions of power between the NDC and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), indicating a level of democratic stability.

However, there have been criticisms regarding the independence of institutions like the judiciary and the Electoral Commission, with former President John Mahama recently voicing concerns that Ghana has become a “bad model of democracy” due to perceived lack of institutional autonomy.

Economically, Ghana’s democratic period has seen growth, with significant reductions in poverty and the emergence of a middle class, which has contributed to political stability by aligning voter interests more with economic development rather than ethnic or regional affiliations.

In terms of democratic practice, there’s an acknowledgment that while the formal structures of democracy are in place, the actual practice can be marred by issues like vote-buying, distrust in electoral processes, and the need for more transparent governance.

This reflects a broader critique where democracy in Ghana might be more institutional than participatory, focusing on government structures rather than engaging citizens in governance.

Ghana’s democracy has shown resilience and a degree of success in maintaining peace and electoral regularity, it continues to face significant challenges in ensuring that democratic dividends are felt by all citizens, with calls for deeper accountability and institutional reforms to truly empower the populace.

A 7-year-old boy remarkably survived five days alone in the Matusadona National Park in Zimbabwe, a region known for its high lion population along with other wild animals.

After going missing, the boy managed to navigate through the harsh terrain, covering approximately 49 kilometers (30 miles) from his village to where he was eventually found.

He sustained himself by eating wild fruits and digging small holes along dry river banks to access underground water, techniques known in drought-prone areas.

The search for the boy was challenging due to heavy rainfall which obscured his footprints, but a joint operation involving park rangers, police officers, and local community members led to his discovery.

Following his rescue, he was described as frail and required medical attention, including being put on an IV drip.

This incident has been widely reported as a testament to the boy’s survival skills and the collective effort in his rescue.