POLITICS-AFRICA: Civil Groups Question the Merits of Foreign-Funded Polls

Debates about foreign financing of elections in West Africa is beginning to take the central political stage, as civil groups question the merits of such funding. Take Mali's 2002 elections, for example, which cost about 34 million U.S. dollars. More than a quarter of that amount, or 9 million U.S. dollars, was footed by foreign institutions and countries, according to Abderhamane Niang, an election consultant from Mali. ''Our elections are so expensive that they always drain our resources, but the foreign funding, which we receive for running such elections, undermine our national sovereignty,'' Niang argues.

ENVIRONMENT: Unemployed Youths Pick Up Garbage in Togo’s Capital

Each day, an army of unemployed youth combs the streets of Lome to pick up the garbage littering Togo's capital.

ENVIRONMENT: Motorcycles Emit Most Air Pollution in West Africa – Study

Ageing motorcycle taxis, which cover 80 percent of transport needs of Togo, Benin and Niger, produce air pollution, causing health and environmental problems, particularly in the cities.

TRANSPORT: Neighbours Reap Fruits of Cote D’Ivoire’s Conflict

Ports in Ghana, Togo and Benin have enjoyed a sharp increase in traffic as a result of the army rebellion in Cote d'Ivoire.

TRANSPORT: Neighbours Reap Fruits of Cote D’Ivoire’s Conflict

Ports in Ghana, Togo and Benin have enjoyed a sharp increase in traffic as a result of the army rebellion in Cote d'Ivoire.

POLITICS-COTE D’IVOIRE: Belligerents to Hold Direct Talks

Representatives of army mutineers in Cote d'Ivoire will this week hold direct talks with the government in Lome, the Togolese capital, to discuss their political demands.

POLITICS-COTE D’IVOIRE: Belligerents to Hold Direct Talks

Representatives of army mutineers in Cote d'Ivoire will this week hold direct talks with the government in Lome, the Togolese capital, to discuss their political demands.

HEALTH-TOGO: Female Condom Offers the Best Protection – AIDS Campaigner

Female condom, which is still new in much of Africa, offers the best protection against AIDS and allows women to negotiate safe sex, says a campaigner.

DEVELOPMENT-WEST AFRICA: New Hope for Farmers

Considered risky and unprofitable, Africa's farming community has often been denied access to credit and insurance. But now some financial institutions are offering new hopes to farmers in West Africa.

DEVELOPMENT: Rescuing West Africa’s Faltering Cotton Industry

Urgent action is needed to save West Africa's cotton industry, on which some 10 million people depend, from collapsing, stakeholders and experts have said.