Parliament Swears-In a Lawyer as Electoral Chief

Dec 25 , 2023


[ssba-buttons]

The National Election Board of Ethiopia welcomed its new chairperson, Melatworq Hailu, following a parliamentary session that saw her sworn in with hardly any opposition. Born in Gonder, Amhara Regional State, Melatworq's appointment is expected to bring a renewed focus on the integrity and efficacy of the electoral processes where local elections have been absent for five years now. Her dual expertise in law and business administration may well be helpful for her in navigating the complexities of Ethiopia's evolving political landscape. Melatworq steps into a role vacated by Birtukan Midekssa, who resigned five months ago citing health concerns. Her ascension to the chair comes at a critical moment for Ethiopia's political landscape, following a nomination process spearheaded by an eight-person committee and ratified by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD). A seasoned public servant, Melatworq's tenure includes a decade as the legal head of the former Ethiopian Customs & Revenue Authority (ERCA) and directorial positions within the Board itself. Her education is as diverse as her career, studying law, peace and security at the Addis Abeba University; and a business administration postgraduate studies at the Harvard University. She is recognised as one of the founders of the New Generation University College.


Radar

Bank of Abyssinia Signs Partnership with Droga Cooperative

Bank of Abyssinia has entered into a partnership agreement with Droga Health & Financial Savings and Credit Cooperative to provide financial support and services for its members. The agreement was signed yesterday at the Bank's headquarters. The deal aims to strengthen collaboration between the two institutions, enabling cooperative members to access tailored banking services. It was signed by Wosenyeleh Abera, Deputy CEO for Customer Relations and Marketing at the bank, and Zelalem Yilma...


Radar

Wegagen Introduces Real Time SWIFT Tracking

Wegagen Bank has launched a new mobile app feature enabling customers to track international SWIFT payments in real time. The bank is the first in Ethiopia to introduce an online SWIFT payment tracking system. By integrating SWIFT Global Payment Innovation, customers, particularly those involved in import-export trade, can monitor cross-border transactions using a Unique End-to-End Transaction Reference (UETR) directly from their smartphones. To use the service, customers select the SWIFT...


Radar

National ID, Zambia Partners to Expands Program Reach

The National ID Program has signed an agreement with Zambia's counterpart to provide consulting services for the development of software that will issue digital IDs. It is the first time the institution has extended its expertise beyond national borders, a sign of growing recognition for its rapid progress. Program officials described the partnership as a milestone in their effort to position themselves as a regional player in digital transformation. The collaboration is expected to center...