Responses to and consequences of the current Ebola outbreak in parts of West and Central Africa have revealed the inequalities between healthcare systems in Africa and those in the western world. Awareness of these fault lines should increase the push toward universal healthcare for African citizens

What is Ebola? How is it contracted? How is the disease highlighting the prejudices and shortcomings of the international community? In what ways is it undermining West African values and practices. Yohannes Woldemariam reflects on these questions and more.

The current crisis could well get out of hand as predicted. The problem is more than just a failure of the healthcare system. Utter negligence and poor management of public institutions, largely due to rampant corruption and bad governance, is the real issue that has come to the surface

After decades of violent conflict, dictatorship, a weak state and massive foreign interference, one could give up on DR Congo. But the country is on course to restoration. It will indeed become the centre of the sun’s radiance for Africa

There is ridiculously high fear-mongering about Ebola. Although this is a serious epidemic, the impression must not be created that humanity is at the brink of extinction. We will overcome Ebola

Eritrea’s remarkable success in combating HIV/AIDS is founded upon a multisectoral approach that involves the targeting of harmful societal behaviors and traditions like banning child marriage and female genital cutting

A new propaganda effort to convince Africans is vigorously pursued by corporations and the development industry trying to convince us that we need genetic engineering to overcome malnutrition and food shortages.

African governments are under intense pressure from within but also from big agribusiness and Western governments to embrace GMOs. Governments must resist all forms of arm-twisting and food colonialism and make their biotechnology choices based on the facts

In addition to questions of human health, environmental impact and corporate control over the food value chain, there are a number of other issues which must be addressed as part of the debate around genetically engineered crops and food.

Food Sovereignty Ghana calls for an indefinite Moratorium or ban on the propagation, cultivation, raising, and growing of Genetically Modified Organisms in Ghana.

Myths and outright lies about the alleged benefits of genetically engineered crops (GE crops or GMOs) persist only because the multinationals that profit from them have put so much effort into spreading them around.

The debate around Genetically Modified Organisms has been characterized by lack of information and understanding of the complexities around biotechnology. Any state must undertake careful consideration about potential benefits and risks before deciding to introduce GMOs into the country.

The debate in Ghana over the cultivation of genetically modified seeds provided by international aid agencies demonstrates that foreign aid often comes with an agenda determined by foreign financial and political backers, not by the end-users of the assistance.

GMOs are presented as a magic bullet to the problems of agricultural productivity without seriously examining the alternative route to industrial agriculture. Agro-ecology with an emphasis on ecosystem farming and local knowledge development of African farmers is the alternative that Zimbabwe should adopt

On account of population pressures and diseases that are affecting Uganda’s coffee, maize, banana and cassava production, GMOs are necessary to address the food insecurity and hidden hunger in the country

China-Africa relations was the subject of a recent debate on Twitter with US-based Kenyan scholar Calestous Juma. Prof Juma blames Africa for its development problems, saying nothing about the West’s imperialist looting and destabilization of African nations, particularly in panic reaction to China’s growing presence.

Kenya’s farmers produce enormous wealth for the country yet are largely poor. They must reject the farming model that keeps them perpetually poor, indebted, frustrated into alcoholism, domestic violence and seek trade justice

Pambazuka News invites articles on the vexed question of GMOs and food sovereignty in Africa to help readers make sense of the debate in order to effectively play their roles as citizens

With all the progress made so far, and with new scientific evidence and medical tools providing hope that the epidemic can finally be brought under control, there needs to be a sustained effort and a scale up of investment to make this hope a reality.

Reviled by the right wing British press, Crow and Benn championed the interests of the working people of Britain and struggled for social justice issues of workers around the world.