Tunisian authors Sofien Rejeb and Dorra Fazaa on IPAF 2024 longlistPresident Akufo Addo appoints John Boadu as Director General of SIGA

The International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) 2024 on Thursday revealed the longlist of 16 novels in contention for the 2024 prize, including two Tunisian authors Sofien Rejeb with his novel "Reader of the Tanners' Alley," published by Masciliana, and Dorra Fazaa with "I hide passion," published by Sindbad Editions. The list has been chosen from a total of 133 books published in Arabic between July 2022 and June 2023 by a panel of five judges, chaired by Syrian writer Nabil Suleiman. Joining him are Palestinian writer, researcher and academic Sonia Nimr, Czech academic František Ondráš, Egyptian critic and journalist Mohamed Shoair, and Sudanese writer and journalist Hammour Ziada. The novels take readers from a racecourse in 1920s Cairo, to a rare book market in Tunisia; from the ancient houses of Baghdad, to a famine in 1970s Jerusalem. We also see customs and traditions of territories new to Arabic literature, such as the Comoros islands and the Belgian Congo. Transitional periods in history are deco nstructed to answer questions about the current moment, and to explore the impact of socio-political conditions on both individual identity and interpersonal relationships. A number of the books reflect on the act of creation, while other recurrent themes include war, exile, and impossible love. The International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) is the most prestigious and important literary prize in the Arab world. Its aim is to reward excellence in contemporary Arabic creative writing and to encourage the readership of high quality Arabic literature internationally through the translation and publication of winning and shortlisted novels in other major languages. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo has appointed Mr John Boadu, a former General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), as the Director General of the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA). The appointment letter was signed by Nana Bediatuo Asante, Secretary to the President. It said: 'Pursuant to Section 17 (2) of the State Interests and Governance Authority Act, 2019(Act 990), I am pleased to inform you that the President has appointed you to act as the Director-General of State Interests and Governance Authority (the 'Authority') pending receipt of the constitutionally required advice of the governing Board of the Authority, given in consultation with the Public Services Commission. 'I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your appointment. Kindly indicate your acceptance or otherwise of this appointment within 14 days of receipt of this letter.' Mr John Boadu is an accountant and data analyst. He is the longest-serving national officer of the NPP in history. As a Nati onal Organiser, he served concurrently as an interim General Secretary in 2015, following the suspension of the then incumbent, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong. In 2018, Mr Boadu was elected as the substantive General Secretary . He lost the position to Mr Justin Frimpong Kodua in 2022 during the NPP's National Delegates Conference held at the Accra Sports Stadium. He is the only personality who has held almost every position at the party headquarters. He's been National Finance Officer, National Youth Treasurer, National Youth Organiser, Deputy National Communications Director, National Organiser and General Secretary. Prior to his rise to the national level, Mr Boadu served the Party at the grassroots from Polling Station Chairman to Constituency Secretary and to Regional Research and Elections Officer. Source: Ghana News Agency