🚨BREAKING: Ghana Exits IMF $3B Program – What It Means for the Diaspora | This Week in Ghana Live 📱

Added: 2026-05-24

[00:00:01][music] [music] [music] >> Officials in Ghana say the government has wrapped up its International Monetary Fund bailout program, ending a $3 billion emergency support package.

[00:00:28]Accra seized an economic stability and debt sustainability ahead of schedule.

[00:00:33]Ghana's presidency says inflation has reduced significantly, the currency has strengthened, and public debt has declined sharply.

[00:00:41]In December, President John Dramani Mahama announced the country would gradually exit the IMF program thanks to reforms undertaken since 2024. The IMF says Ghana's program delivered substantial stabilization gains, including improved reserves, stronger fiscal performance, and progress in restructuring public debt. It warned, however, that maintaining the reform momentum was critical to sustaining growth.

[00:01:05]Ghana will now transition to an IMF policy coordination instrument, which supports reforms and signals policy credibility to investors without providing direct funding.

[00:01:19]All right, all right, all right. Welcome to this week in Ghana, your bi-weekly live stream where we talk about all things Ghana news and the things happening on the ground in the country.

[00:01:34]Uh as you saw, Ghana has exited the $3 billion IMF program, so we'll be speaking about that.

[00:01:41]Uh there are also some other stories as well. We'll be talking about Black Volta's um ex-account being suspended after old tweets resurface. Um influencer So African arrested over alleged um SA, and there is a reparations reparations event um in the month of June. So, before we get into today's stories, we'll start off with some introductions. I will turn it over to our co-host before I introduce myself.

[00:02:10]Hello, I'm Ivy Prosper and I am a YouTube creator. I am a producer and I am an author of the book Your Essential Guide to Moving to Ghana as well as I have my company Prosper Creative Group and I am also curating tours for people who are coming to Ghana private tours that I'm curating. So, all the information I will link in the video description after our live stream is over. Thank you so much for joining us.

[00:02:44]Absolutely and apologies for delay everyone.

[00:02:48]I am the reason for the delay. So, we are very late today, but those of you who are joining us, we appreciate you joining us. Um yes, hello hello to you all. So, I'm Joe Hotagua. I'm the founder of Authentic African Media. We help people visit, move, and invest on the continent of Africa. We try to bridge the gap between those living in the diaspora and those living on the continent by making introductions and sharing information about those who have made those successful transitions business-wise and or traveling and helping others travel as well.

[00:03:23]Um we also do these live streams weekly.

[00:03:26]So, I I do the Thursday live stream where we're talking about the news in general. We do these bi-weekly with Ivy and also on a semi-regular basis we do live streams on Sierra Leone because that's my country of origin and that is where I am today.

[00:03:42]So, with that we will get into today's stories. So, the first of which as you saw is Ghana has exited exited the IMF program. It is 10:52 p.m. here, just so you all are aware.

[00:03:59]So, Ghana has completed the latest IMF supported program after implementing key reforms aimed at stabilizing the economy, including tighter spending controls, revenue improvements, and debt restructuring. So, while the while the exit signals progress in restoring economic confidence, there are concerns about the long-term sustainability due to challenges like debt pressures, energy sector inefficiencies, revenue leakages, etc. So, we will hear a little bit from the folks at Joy News on this story and we'll have some commentary on the other side.

[00:04:58]There's no audio.

[00:05:02]Oh, the audio is not playing. You guys can't hear it.

[00:05:05]Um >> No.

[00:05:07]Okay, terrible. Um can the audience hear? Just let me know if you guys can hear. It um I know that Ivy cannot. If the Let me know if the audience can. If you guys cannot, then I will Okay, so, the audience cannot either.

[00:05:23]Um it should be your browser lost connection to your screen share audio.

[00:05:28]Try sharing your screen again, it says.

[00:05:30]Okay, it says try sharing my screen again. I will try I will attempt to do it again. Um I did get a notification here from our friends at StreamYard. Um so, this was the end of um one of many, just so we know. Just for context, this was not um a one-off program Uh but in any case let me know if you guys can hear it now. We'll try this again. And this is beyond a number of a lot of analysis for you here on the show on the IMF program. We've exited 17 IMF program but the biggest question on everybody's mind is how soon could Ghana return to the IMF for its 18th bailout package? That is why today we are having a special analysis for you taking you through all the key developments of the 17th IMF program. How far we have come and the questions being raised.

[00:06:26]What is the data saying? What has been the position of the Central Bank when it comes to the privatization of ECG, recapitalization of Bank of Ghana. What is the status at the moment? If you look at our All right, it's a very detailed explanation. I think we're going to that the video is going to go very deep in this very very long. But I think that the main thing to see here is the ability to be able to get out of this program.

[00:06:54]I think we've spoken on a number of occasions about the the current administration you know being able to cancel specific debt. In fact, there was an energy debt that they were able to pay off and looks in like one fell swoop. Obviously the the the the currency has been performing at levels that you hadn't seen in a while. So there's some reforms and some progress that we're seeing in country. But um But yeah, so I be your thoughts on the being able to to finish you know basically getting out of this program and looking like there's there's a potential to restructure this so it's not another bailout but maybe a potential different type of deal moving forward. And from what I heard, I thought I heard 17th or 18th um different package. And so, um yeah, what what are your thoughts, Ivy?

[00:07:56]I mean, Ghana's in severe debt still with uh to the IMF.

[00:08:00]So, they're exiting a program, which means the program that they're exiting that it means that they are not going to take out another bailout loan.

[00:08:11]Um they're simply restructuring what already exists.

[00:08:14]And um I think that they're going to take a lot of discipline paying off what it is what the debts that are still there. So, although they're calling it an exit, I think it's it's The thing about news and headlines is that it can be misleading because the way that the stories are being headlined because a lot of people only read headlines and don't read full stories in detail. So, people will start thinking Ghana no longer has any IMF ties when they say Ghana's exiting. When it's simply it's like a restructuring from the current, you know, program they have to a different type of program where they're not going to take bailouts. So, I think it's it's it's a step in the right direction to be um working towards not taking another bailout and just kind of restructuring in a way that they can pay off the debt that they do have. So, I do think it's a step in the right direction. So, let's see what happens going forward as to how long it will take for them to um pay it off cuz I think they're calling it a transition to a policy coordination instrument is the name of the program, which means that they're not going to take on any new IMF loans um and they're going to be continued to be monitored by the IMF.

[00:09:38]Yeah, and I and I'll say, you know, look, um one of the things that I think are are we find as challenges um in many of the countries on the continent and, you know, obviously we're speaking about specifically Ghana here, is the amount of debt that our countries take on, right? And >> Yeah.

[00:09:57]one of the things that I've heard on so many occasions, and I think this was somebody from the IMF, is that um they mentioned that African politicians um don't negotiate as much as other people from around the world. So, whether that's a debt restructuring deal where there's a uh you know, there's a uh percentage due back in um you know, uh the you know, whether the the uh the the the the the the the the the the the the the the you know, when you get debt, the percentage amount of debt that you're supposed to pay for whatever reason my brain's not working.

[00:10:32]>> The interest, all right, this is 11:00 p.m. brain. So, the interest due on that debt, um one of the things that I hear um many times is that many African politicians do not do a good job of uh negotiating those interest rates, right? Those interest rates do not need to be static, right? Then it's a the number given is a starting point.

[00:10:54]Um or when it comes to any other types of deals that are happening.

[00:10:58]Um and I think many times it's because those who are doing those deals are excited because there's a lot of revenue going to them personally, right?

[00:11:07]Um and so when you get into situations where you've had 17 or uh whatever the number was, different numbers of bailouts, um I I'm um optimistic to see that uh this at least is restructuring of a long pattern of need for bailouts. Um and all the conditions in which that were described, I think um bodes well for for Ghana moving forward, right? Because of the idea that Ghana has um basically done a number of different things to to basically not need to qualify for um another bailout. So, in any case, I will continue to follow this. I mean, that this is this is an encouraging step in the right direction. Although a small step, it is a and it is an important one. And to your point, um it does not eliminate any debt. It does not mean that it doesn't eliminate all debt. And it doesn't mean that they're not in another IMF program. It's just the program shifts and changes from a bailout to this policy um that you had mentioned. Uh so, with that, we will get into the next story. Um and that is uh with Black Volta. So, um you know, this one is one of those stories that I think was um it was viral news within country and within um the Ghana the Ghanaian diaspora. I've I I was sent a few things on this story. Um obviously, Ivy, you and I, you know, you shared this with me again today as well.

[00:12:50]And um and this is a very popular um page on on social media and personality behind it. Um I will actually just allow them to speak to what happened because their account was suspended on X. But, I'll allow um Black Volta's page to speak Well, I'll allow someone to speak to it, actually. Sorry, this is not Black Volta. Uh but, Yael Charli is going to speak to this um and we will have some commentary on the other side.

[00:13:21]Uh let's see here.

[00:13:26]This situation that we have on black voter. Now, the issue on ground is old tweet, old post he made on X and now resurface it. Now, the situation started when the story on so Africa. Black voter now put out a statement. In this statement, he said official statement.

[00:13:45]Black voter was founded in lifestyle and community platform with a simple and ambitious vision. Now, there's a part of his whole statement that two people he now said he now went on to say over the years I have grown personally and professionally. Moving forward, he said I would take the initiative to personally engage with organizations in Ghana focus on raising awareness of gender-based violence, women empowerment and the importance of our digital footprint. Nana Aba for one then said the worst part of your statement is moving forward. I will take the initiative to personally engage with organizations in Ghana focus on raising awareness of gender-based violence, women empowerment and the importance of digital footprint. She said, "No, you wouldn't do that. You don't have what it takes to speak on behalf of any woman or child. You Okay, so I want to stop it there, but um basically the story is um quite a um there were a lot of posts that uh basically uh because because of YouTube's policies, I can't put on screen what was said on X. Um and that's why you even seeing this um it was a quick screenshot. But basically, it um it joked about simulating essay. I think that's the best way I can describe it.

[00:15:06]Um and um essay on women um and then further joked about um deflowering or could be deflowering someone. And it was just in very, very poor taste. I can't even That's a That's not That's a saying it charitably. Um and so uh these tweets have resurfaced and um and the account was suspended recently because of those tweets at that point in time. Um of course, uh you know, there's been a apology of course by um by the person who runs the Black Voters page. But um Ivy, your your thoughts on this because you know, obviously I've been following the Black Voters page for a while, probably since 2021 when I um was moved when I moved to Ghana um because there was always insights into what's happening on ground, events, etc. Um And it is it is sad to see that um this past was there and it uh and it has resurfaced in this way. Uh but your thoughts?

[00:16:19]Um I think that this is an example of there are men out there who have these kinds of thoughts.

[00:16:30]Mhm. And um some will act upon them and a lot of them joke about it. And men who um you mean it over the last few weeks there've been a lot of things surfacing that men have been doing, some men have been doing. I'm not going to say all men, some men have been doing.

[00:16:47]Um for example, you know, there was um some people who were found to be um Uh I'm trying to cuz I know I don't want to say things that as you said, YouTube policies, you don't want things to Right. affect your channel.

[00:17:05]Um but there were some men who were arrested for um uh or for charged for allegedly um drugging their spouses and doing things to them without their consent and recording them. Um and that was happening not in Ghana.

[00:17:25]This is This one I'm talking about is outside of Ghana, but it's an example of um men enabling each other in some of the things that they do when it comes to um the treatment of of women and girls.

[00:17:40]And so um his name Joe Joey, who's the head of the Black Volta, the tweets he made um were from quite some time ago that were found and people took screenshots and had posted them where he was joking about um doing things to women um without their consent. Um joked about um laws um changing laws that criminalized men for doing these things to women. Joking that they should be changed to favor the man who want to do these things. I'm I'm I'm paraphrasing um how it was said in the tweets.

[00:18:20]But it's an example of how sometimes there's people who get into positions of power.

[00:18:26]Some people are calling People are calling him and um the other gentleman who the other That's not gentleman. The other guy who was um arrested um this week who we're going to talk about as well. Um people are calling him the the Ghana diddy. And I'm like, you know, they're taking it to a bit of an extreme, but it's an example of men who are in high positions of power who use their power to take advantage of situations.

[00:18:52]Um sometimes they think they can get away with it, you know? And I think that a lot of men think they can get away with some of these things because their fellow men allow them to and it enable them to because sometimes guys make these kinds of jokes and nobody checks them for it. They say these things and their friends are there.

[00:19:10]Their friends will laugh about it. They think it's a joke.

[00:19:14]But, it's not a joke, some of these things that they say. So, for me, I think that um it does need to be further investigated. I mean, the evidence is [clears throat] there in all the tweets, so I don't know how much more investigation needs to be done, but yeah. Um It's definitely affected his his his brand. And of course, there are people now um there was somebody I was in a debate with on on on uh Instagram today who he all he could think about was he said, "This is going to ruin like night life in Ghana."

[00:19:48]And I'm like, "That's your only concern is ruining night life in Ghana when there's a man who has said some things that are quite offensive to women." And he was like he didn't care. He only cares about the fact that he thinks that night life now is going to be ruined in Ghana because um because the Black Volta page has become a pillar when it comes to night life information in Ghana over the last few years.

[00:20:10]So, that guy making the comments that he didn't really He said he didn't really think it was necessary for him to say anything to appease the girls and women who this affects. He only cares about night life in Ghana.

[00:20:25]And so, that was an example of this is the kind of guy who probably would laugh at the things that were said, think it's no big deal, and just brush it off like it's nothing. I think that there's quite a few guys out there like like that who who really don't care.

[00:20:40]And it's it's very sad because some of these guys some of them have daughters.

[00:20:45]But yet, they speak about women in these ways, and it's like would you want someone to speak that way about your daughter? If you don't have a daughter, your sister, your mother, your aunt.

[00:20:55]Like, would you want men to be saying these things about your family members? Your female family members?

[00:21:02]So, it's um what it's done is brought to light the reality of the underbelly of some of the things that are in society that it's not only abroad cuz sometimes Ghanaians like to think that they're in a bubble and things don't happen in Ghana and it's like these kinds of things it happens everywhere, you know, and it's an unfortunate situation and I'm glad that um I'm glad it's come to light because now the conversations are happening.

[00:21:31]Absolutely. Yeah, and and you know, to um add to that I would say one, you know, there's there's some nuance here because um it was words, but the question is did he ever act on it, right? And I think that that's the the part that I think that that that has that concern, right? Because if you're willing to say something like this publicly, what we've seen and what we found is that people who say these things publicly tend to do some of these things personally. Um I am not saying that that is what's happened here, but what I'm saying is that that's why there's such a concern. It's not even just that people were hurt by it. I think it's that people are concerned that there's a possibility that that people were actually hurt by actions that might have happened behind the scenes. Um as someone who grew up with kids who have been through all kinds of crazy um trauma in their lives, I knew kids who talked like this in high school, you know, even after they graduated from high school, and um there was always the wonder, like, do you act on these things or do you just say these things, right?

[00:22:42]Um and you know, to the next story we're going to talk about with um you know, influencer um you know, so African apparently they they had a a connection. They were they knew each other from the nightlife world and um and >> They know each other very well.

[00:23:05]know each other pretty well. And so, you know, I think that that transitions well to the next story because the the the the connection between the two is partly how this came out. But before we get into the next story, I do want to say this.

[00:23:19]People don't know this, but maybe you do know this.

[00:23:21]Anything that's ever been on the internet, except for maybe videos, and even videos can be found depending on if police want to get a subpoena of the platform, can be found on a thing called the Wayback Machine.

[00:23:33]And this is how all people's tweets get found, right? When somebody's getting canceled for tweets that they wrote 10 years ago, there's a thing called the Wayback Machine, and that's the Internet Archive that I think the government of the United States has set up, in fact. Not 100% sure, but the Internet Archive is set up so that anything that's ever been any website that's ever been made, and this is how people get caught where they make up credentials for themselves on their websites, and then they get called out for it, and then they remove it, but then you can go back and find it. Um that's how people are finding this stuff. It's not like people were screenshotting this back then. They're going and finding it and screenshotting it now. It's a technology that gets used all the time for these particular instances. So, number one, watch what you say online.

[00:24:15]Um but if you really believe that, then say it out loud so we know who you are.

[00:24:20]Um but, you know, two, just know that that's how this stuff comes to be. Um now, to associations, um you know, it is it and I'm not too aware of the the relationship between the two. But So African was an influencer or is an influencer who was recently arrested for allegedly um recording um without consent of you know, young ladies, and also um drugging them with Xanax and other things.

[00:24:58]And so, um we're going to play this story and I think that this is the connection between Black Volta and so African, right? The the the question is could he potentially have participated in these kind of activities if he said those kinds of things that he said in his past, right? That is why this is the two stories have been linked, right? So, we'll we'll play this story on this arrest and then we'll have some commentary on the other side.

[00:25:29]Let me press play.

[00:25:34]This guy got his lifestyle and the lifestyle of some of his siblings and his [clears throat] people, you would know that this guy is from money. So, what went wrong? Now, he's been arrested for sharing explicit images of young ladies without their consent. He creates a Telegram group called VIP Sleep Fetish.

[00:25:56]We inside, he put together women that he has slept with from the ending of the 2025 day. He has put images together and videos together of these people and shares it on a private Telegram channel for people to watch and I don't know once they some VIP there I feel like they pay for it. I'm I mean I'm just saying. He use certain drugs. There are two drugs involved. He use alprazolam.

[00:26:20]So, I did a check on alprazolam to know exactly what drug is alprazolam. Now, this alprazolam small small tablets like that. Alprazolam commonly known by the brand name Xanax is a fast-acting benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and anxiety associated with depression. It works by enhancing neurotransmitters in the brain to produce a calming effect. Neurotransmitters, by the way.

[00:26:46]Neurotransmitters. The side effects are drowsiness, fatigue, memory problems, light-headedness, and difficulty with coordination. So, these are some of the reasons why this drug this particular drug on your man use on. Full video on Okay.

[00:27:03]So, as you saw there, there was a as mentioned using Xanax and other drugs to drug people allegedly, uh film them without their consent, putting them on Telegram. And this by the way is why Telegram's offices were raided by the French about a year ago.

[00:27:23]Telegram is a platform people aren't aware Telegram is a platform that is encrypted, right? It's meant to be encrypted. These groups cannot be seen by public. You can invite people to these groups, but they don't have to be seen and cannot be seen by the public.

[00:27:35]And Telegram refuses to allow police to do subpoenas on them, to go in and um extract names, etc. from these different groups. And on Telegram, the the Russian guy who was in Africa, if you guys might remember, wearing the glasses that had the cameras in them, he was uh recording and and putting them in his Telegram groups. And then you can have paid tiers of Telegram groups as well.

[00:28:02]Um so, he was he was um sharing these videos on Telegram. Um there are groups apparently that have um people under the age of 18 in these groups. I'm just trying to figure out how to communicate this without, you know, YouTube having issues with it. Um and so, these are things that happen on Telegram frequently, by the way.

[00:28:25]Um and it's a known thing, especially by people who are into this kind of stuff. They go into Telegram to do this.

[00:28:32]And this has been And like I said, the French raided Telegram. I don't think they're even allowed to operate in in France anymore. Um and I wish other countries would take harsher punishments towards Telegram because they should be responsible for what's happening on their platform.

[00:28:48]Um So, with that being said, um just to to give everybody that context, Ivy, your thoughts on this particular story and, you know, how it connects to um you know, the Black Voters story that we we just discussed.

[00:29:08]I think you're on mute.

[00:29:12]Ivy, I think you're on mute.

[00:29:18]Ivy, you're on mute.

[00:29:22]I had put myself on mute. I forgot.

[00:29:25]No worries. No worries. I think that the because I had put the air conditioning on, it was a little bit loud.

[00:29:31]Um I think that the male ego is a big part of these kinds of things happening. It's like men always trying to prove themselves when it comes to women.

[00:29:47]Um but then it's a really sinister um sinister thing to feel that you have to make someone, you know, people get people drunk, um get them high, whatever it is that you're doing um so that they can't even have the ability to consent to say no, to say yes.

[00:30:10]And then you just proceed to do what you want to do, record it, and then and then show it to another group of men as part of their fetish.

[00:30:21]And then they they probably are paying for it, too. It's It's It's disgusting.

[00:30:27]Really.

[00:30:28]Um and again, I go back to saying, would you want someone to do this to your daughter, to your sister, to your aunt, to your mom, to your grandmother, like the women in your life? Do you want them to have this kind of treatment as well?

[00:30:40]How can you feel okay doing this to women?

[00:30:44]Knowing that these women are somebody's they're someone's daughter, they're someone's mom, someone's sister, someone's aunt.

[00:30:52]You know, and this is what you're treating them like.

[00:30:56]I think that it's I think it's it's disgusting and unconscionable.

[00:31:02]And um you know, they say that they found a hard drive that has content on it. So, you know, if they have evidence they should charge him. He should be jailed like um you know, based on the evidence that they find. I don't know if they're doing a trial or what's happening right now with the investigation, but I'm glad to see that um Gwinnett's uh criminal investigation unit is is doing their work. Uh it's good to see that.

[00:31:32]Yeah, absolutely. Um yeah, I mean I I you have a little bit of a different take. I mean it's just in terms of um I would say I would add to that I would say is that I think I think this is a sickness, right? Because of the style of what he was doing.

[00:31:46]Because um I'm not a person that generally kink shames as long as it's not unethical, it was not immoral, and it's not illegal, right? Um and what he was doing is all three, right? I think, you know, consent matters 100%.

[00:32:06]And what we're talking about here is um not giving people the opportunity to make a decision to be a part of what you're doing, right? You can't do that.

[00:32:17]You can't somebody without them even knowing or not having the ability to make that decision. Um and then on top of all of that, not even for your own personal pleasure, but then for others, then potentially to potentially be monetizing it as well.

[00:32:31]Um I think it's just all it's just like layers of wrong um on so many different levels. Um, and then to your point, yes, the the the the cyber the cyber um cyber investigations unit, I remember there there was a um there's been some recent stories about um you know, credit card scammers, romance scammers, um the the the the crackdown has been pretty significant and they've been really good at what they've done in terms of catching these kinds of things.

[00:33:04]Yeah.

[00:33:06]And so it I'm really I'm glad to see that the the they have figured out how to start to catch these folks and and have started this process. Um, I who knows how much more there is out there.

[00:33:18]Right? There are a lot of underground things that are hard to find, especially when you have something like Telegram and you have an uncooperative platform.

[00:33:25]Um, I'm not a person who believes in backdoors of encryption services, but I do believe that with a a warrant, and a justified warrant, you know, these things have to make be made available to law enforcement for specific reasons like this, when you have who knows an untold number of victims.

[00:33:47]Um, it's important that these things do get um you know, they're they're able to investigate and are able to to be able to stop this from continuing to harm more people.

[00:33:59]Um, there was a question on if both men were Ghanaian in this story and in the last one.

[00:34:05]And I'm pretty sure the answer is yes, right? Both of them were they're both Ghanaian. Yes.

[00:34:10]Yes, so they're both Ghanaian. Um, and so, you know, in in one of the things that I will say is that um you know, stereotypically, Ghanaians are not known for these kinds of behaviors, right? When you talk about these kinds of behaviors, it's generally from other potential countries.

[00:34:31]Um, and so seeing something like this, I think might be shocking to some folks.

[00:34:36]Um, but I you know, every every society has um, you know, these kinds of people. There's every every There's always a percentage of every society that has the the worst kinds of people in them.

[00:34:49]And so I don't think this is indicative of Ghanaian men as a whole, but I think it just shows you that no matter where you are in the world, there are these kinds of people, um, including in Ghana. So, um, I think it's just important for people to to take that perspective as well. To just understand that and to to know that. Um, but I yeah, I mean, I was a little bit shocked, I'm not going to lie, when when I heard about this. Um, I guess I wouldn't say shocked, I was a little bit surprised, um, considering how it was being done, right? The the way this was being perpetuated. I just thought, um, you know, in today's day and age, you would think if somebody was into this kind of stuff, they wouldn't do it like this, but um, I'm just glad they got caught. I'll put it that way. I'll just leave it at that.

[00:35:43]>> Yeah.

[00:35:43]>> I'm just glad they got caught. Um, so yeah, it's uh it's unfortunately these stories had to be talked about today, you know, because they're both in the news very prevalently in in Ghana and and around um, other parts of West Africa, right? People are reporting on this. And so it was important that we brought it to you all and gave you the opportunity to hear it and to give your comments and thoughts about it. Um, so yeah, um, to a more brighter note, um, because that one that was dark.

[00:36:18]You know, um, I and I hope these guys are brought to justice, right? And the victims have get some kind of reprieve for this. So I do want to just end with that. Um So, um next I want to mention that there is a um a reparations event called the next steps Ghana um high-level consultative conference on the next steps to the landmark UN resolution on the trafficking of enslaved Africans. Um Let me actually put that up on the screen for you guys to see.

[00:36:53]Um It's translating the landmark UN resolution on the trafficking of enslaved Africans into common framework of actionable commitments um for just and equitable world order.

[00:37:06]So, there'll be 3 days and it ends on June 10th in Osu. There's a technical meeting on June 17th, there's a high-level meeting on June 18th and then on June 10th um there's another June 10th meeting.

[00:37:19]So, um there's a there's uh commentary from the president rep um rep rep reparatory justice will not be handed to us. Like political independence, it must be asserted, pursued, and secured through determination and unity.

[00:37:43]And so, one of the questions that people had been asking is if we're going to make these resolutions at the African Union and then at the United Nations, what's next? So, I can appreciate that there's a discussion and programs around what is expected to be next. Right? Um So, this is a kind of the overview, right, of the March 25th ruling.

[00:38:09]There's going to be 3 days of deliberation and declaration and deliverables.

[00:38:15]So, technical meetings, formulation of global post-adoption framework, build a a virtual consultations on conference outcomes.

[00:38:26]On the 18th, is going to be an establishment of three global pillars of panels on and it consults and a consultative forum.

[00:38:33]Heads of states, foreign ministers, invited dignitaries, experts and activists activists convene. So, people who can make change and those who are pushing for change will be meeting.

[00:38:48]High-level expert segment, endorsement of global post adoption framework. I think it's important to have a framework to work from.

[00:38:55]An adoption of the conference outcome document and then there's actually some tours and some dinners and things of that happening on June 10th.

[00:39:04]So, there's a list of what it aims to achieve, collective reflection and dialogue, global post adoption framework, conference report, the three global panels, an annual consultative forum. So, this isn't just a one-off thing. The expectation is that it's going to be annual. The three international bodies will be involved and that's listed here. The three different locations are here. So, it'll happen at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Kempinski Hotel and then the Christiansborg Castle as well.

[00:39:33]And here's the here's who's going to attend, right? International organizations, legislative and civil society, experts and academics, heads of state and government.

[00:39:43]Um yeah, and um here's some pictures and details. Why why Okay, so before I get into my thoughts, Ivy, your your thoughts on this particular event coming out of the historic UN resolution just almost almost two months back.

[00:40:03]I think that it's important to have a follow-up event. You know, the the request was made, the request was approved, and so now what are the steps?

[00:40:12]What's the action? So, I think it's good that there's going to be an event where they're going to talk about it and um, you know, lay out the foundation and some frameworks of how this actually could potentially be done, or what they're presenting, and who they're presenting it to. Are they presenting it to all the countries who participated in the slave trade, or are they only selecting certain countries? So, it's good that they're working on a framework.

[00:40:37]Yeah, absolutely. And agreed, like I I mean, so many times, right? Um, there's a symbolic gesture that happens, and nothing happens afterwards, right?

[00:40:48]And that's the biggest complaint I think many of us have about things that happen on the continent. Um, and also then, when there are these meetings, it's it's either activists, or sometimes leaders.

[00:41:05]I haven't really seen too many times where there are are leaders and activists coming together with a framework. I mean, there's already a goal to have a framework to work on and have things to work towards every year.

[00:41:16]I think that's the kind of thing that's important for this. I mean, there were a lot of critics um, about and and to this event, especially because there was a deal made the same weekend as the announcement, right? With the EU, and um, especially many of the EU members um, abstaining from voting on this UN resolution.

[00:41:37]Um, so it is good to see that there are um, you know, post frameworks, the different groups that will be together meeting to discuss what this looks like, whatever what does reparative justice look like, um, you know, all of those things I think are really really important, and um, I'm encouraged to see that. And it's not just one day, it's over 3 days. There are many different events happening. Um, I think it's really important to to um, to create a platform, to have a process to follow up on such a historic um resolution at the United Nations.

[00:42:19]Um Okay, so with that, we are at time. It is 11:31 p.m. here on GMT. Ivy and I are in the same time zone and it is late, but we wanted to make sure we got to you guys with some stories today. Um thank you to all who joined. I know it's it was an hour and a half later hour and 45 minutes later than we normally go live. So, we appreciate you all for joining and and contributing to the conversation.

[00:42:45]Um any final words from you, Ivy, before we go?

[00:42:48]No. No. No. Nothing much to add except thank you everybody for watching and for always um putting your comments out there and being interested genuinely in learning about what's happening in Ghana and um you know cuz it helps you to stay informed to know what's happening in the country, especially if you're planning on living in the country. So, I appreciate you all for for joining us today.

[00:43:16]Absolutely. And I wish I was out partying. I see Jade's comment. I wish I was not.

[00:43:22]I was not out partying. I'm working East Coast hours, guys. So, I'm working in the morning to shoot content and in the evening I am working my day job um until um 11:00 p.m.

[00:43:35]Fun times. So, uh first world problems though. I'm not complaining. Let me just Let me just say that. Um but anyway, um just wanted to clarify that. Um but thank you guys for joining and uh we will see you guys all back in a couple of weeks. Bye, guys.

[00:43:49]Bye.