Ghana has shut down what it called 49 illegal television stations. The National Communications Authority says broadcasting by too many stations would affect signals. Authorities say the TV stations were being shut down because they were unlicensed. They say the action will ensure efficient use of the country’s broadcasting spectrum.

At least 146 TV channels are currently authorized to operate.

The process of shutting down unlicensed stations is being done in collaboration with the police and intelligence agents.

The NCA says it continuously monitors satellite free-to-air television platforms.

More than 50 radio stations were shut down in a similar exercise in 2017.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control (Africa CDC) have urged African countries not to destroy COVID-19 vaccines that have expired.  Many countries on the continent got AstraZeneca vaccines through the U.N. facilitated Covax scheme for their campaigns.

Now, the W.H.O. says countries whose stocks might have expired should hold on to the stock and wait for further guidance. The Africa CDC says it has spoken to the manufacturer and has been reassured that the vaccines are still safe.

Reports say many vaccines can be used up to 36 months after manufacture, but because COVID-19 jabs are new, there is not enough data to prove their effectiveness over longer periods.

The call came after Malawi and South Sudan said they would discard more than 70,000 doses of the AstraZeneca jabs that were out of date.

The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Africa has been slow, partly because of supply issues and skepticism about the jab.

Out of 55 African countries, 41 have benefitted from the delivery of vaccines via the global-sharing scheme Covax. Seven are yet to receive their first batch.

Heavy rains in Angola’s capital, Luanda, have killed at least 24 persons and left 8,000 families homeless.

A spokesman for the national civil security agency, Faustino Minguês, said most of the victims were killed by collapsing walls or were electrocuted.

Torrential rains and flooding ripped through the city on Monday. The intensity of the downpour, which lasted for about seven hours, collapsed bridges, uprooted trees and submerged vehicles.

In a statement late on Wednesday by Luanda’s provincial government said “The number of deaths has risen from 14 to 24” adding that at least 2,344 homes were flooded and 60 collapsed.

According to AFP news agency a total of 11,745 persons have been affected.

The rain also prevented the operation of public transport in several areas of Luanda, causing many people not to make it to their places of work.

The municipal civil protection commission said it will continue to survey the damage caused by the rains.