Day: October 2, 2023

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has debunked a news publication in an online media alleging non-establishment of testing laboratory for food fortification.

A statement by NAFDAC Resident Media Consultant, Mr Olusayo Akintola, in Abuja on Monday stated that the attention of the agency was drawn to the Sept. 30 publication by “Flowerbud NEWS” in respect of the subject matter.

Akintola stated that the publication claimed that this assertion was made by The Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) in collaboration with the Civil Society Legislative Advisory Centre (CSLAC) and eHealth.

The resident media consultant however debunked the position of the organisations about NAFDAC, saying it has laboratories for analyses of micronutrients in foods.

“I wish to state unequivocally that NAFDAC has laboratories for analyses of micronutrients in food and had been conducting annual survey on food fortification in Nigeria for the past years.

“Particularly, the Central Food Laboratory has international accredited micronutrient laboratory units with the state-of-the-art equipment.

“The laboratory has the Vitamins units for testing of vitamins in food which include Vitamin premix and fortified food vehicles.

“Vitamins tested include fat soluble- Vitamin A; water soluble – thiamine, riboflavin, biotin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, cyanocobalamin, folate.

“This unit is equipped with latest versions of Agilent and Chromaster brands of High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).

“The Laboratory has the Metal unit equipped with latest models of Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS), Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES), Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS),” he said.

He stated that the metal unit analyses all the nutritional and heavy toxic metals in foods including the fortification vehicles.

He said that the units have well-trained staff that are technically equipped to handle the equipment in the analysis of micronutrients using internationally accepted protocols.

According to him, the test scopes of the units are accredited by American National Accreditation Board (ANAB) since 2018 and this has been sustained and renewed annually.

He said that this fact can be verified from the ANAB website.

Akintola said that the laboratory along other NAFDAC laboratories in other parts of the country handles over 10,000 samples of fortified foods in the 2023 Food Fortification Survey.

He disclosed that the result of the samples are presented to the National Fortification Alliance (NFA), adding that NFA consists of representatives of the industries – Flourmills, sugar processing and vegetable oil industries.

Others, according to him are government and regulatory agencies and donor partners.

Akintola said that NAFDAC does not and had never contracted the analysis of its micronutrients or any parameter of its regulated products to private laboratory since the assumption of office of Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye as its Director- General.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Nana Sifa Twum, the Head of Corporate Affairs, National Pension Regulatory Authority (NPRA), says the informal sector faces pension penetration challenges because pensions in Ghana were set up on a wrong premise with the notion that only formal workers can benefit.

‘This is why we have about nine million people working in the country who are not on pension schemes,’ he said.

He indicated that over the next five to 10 years, many people would retire into poverty if the challenges were not resolved.

Nana Twum was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at the launch of the Pension Sunday at the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church at Osu in Accra.

The NPRA, in collaboration with the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), has instituted the Pensions Sunday to educate church members to improve pension literacy and enhance coverage in the country.

The first Sunday of every October will be observed in all the 5000 Presbyterian congregations across the country as Pensions Sunday to create awareness among members and non-members alike to understand, appreciate and participate in contributing to pensions schemes.

It is estimated that about 85 per cent of the working population in Ghana is found in the information sector, which paints a very gloomy picture of the Ghanaian working force.

Out of that figure, there was less than one per cent on pension schemes, but the NPRA had worked hard to bring about seven per cent of them onto the schemes currently, Nana Twum said.

‘Many pragmatic programmes have been put in place by the Authority to raise the figure to about 25 per cent in the next five years,’ he noted.

‘The consequences would be dire for the entire nation if nothing is done about it. We need to avoid that and this is why the collaboration with the Presbyterian Church is deemed by the Authority as crucial.’

He said the situation had created huge misunderstanding among the populace but, fortunately, the NPRA had started correcting that error by encouraging Ghanaians to accept pensions as part of human life.

‘There are two inevitable things in live, one would have to retire or die, and these require pragmatic preparations,’ he added.

The 2010 National Pensions Reforms have provide the NPRA the mandate to help increase pension literacy and coverage in the country.

Nana Twum noted that many old people tried to keep their souls young but they still become quivering for obvious reasons.

‘Rightly so, nature cannot be cheated as the saying goes. If there are no preparations towards old age and retirement for that matter, old age becomes like a nuisance than the blessings God wants it to be.’

He announced that the Authority was working towards replicating Pensions Sunday in all churches.

The NPRA has put in place plans to enable pension schemes to provide guaranteed monthly income for life to all workers, both in the formal and informal sectors, which makes financial security in retirement much more achievable for those who have them.

Right Reverend Professor J.O.Y Mante, the Moderator of the General Assembly, PCG, who launched the programme, expresses optimism that it would enhance awareness among Ghanaians, especially members of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, to whip up enthusiasm to plan for their retirement.

The bible requires Christians to live in dignity and be financially sound, therefore, the programme would ensure people prepared well towards their retirement, he said.

Rt Rev Mante explained that the Church worked towards the holistic wellbeing of its members ‘and as members are fed with the spiritual information and assistance, they must also be well educated to live lives that are of high repute and dignity.’

He called on the leadership of the Church to liaise with the NPRA in the regions to promote the programme to make it effective and successful.

The Moderator appealed to the Government to institute October, every year, as a pension month to create awareness on pension and related matters.

‘Pension helps one to maintain his or her standard of living in retirement, and savings provides important supplemental income for unforeseen expenses’.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The 66th Annual Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), one of the largest gatherings of parliamentarians in the Commonwealth, is underway in Accra.

More than 500 lawmakers, parliamentary staff, and decision makers from across the Commonwealth are attending.

It is on the theme: ‘The Commonwealth Charter 10 years on: Values and Principles for Parliaments to Uphold’.

The CPA is an international network of nearly 180 Commonwealth parliaments and legislatures working together to strengthen commitments to the highest standards of democratic governance.

The week-long Conference (2023), which is under the Chairmanship of Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, marks the 10th anniversary of the Commonwealth Charter, which outlines its principles and values.

There would also be a number of additional conferences and meetings including the 39th CPA Small Branches Conference, meetings of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP), and Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) networks.

The rest are the 57th Society of Clerks at the Table (SoCATT) Meeting, Presentation of the 2023 Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year awards and the inaugural Emilia Monjowa Lifaka Lecture.

Mr Jeff Hyland, the Editor and Communications Manager at the CPA Secretariat, said the conference would provide an opportunity to engage in plenary sessions and seminars on topics of Pan-Commonwealth interests.

The CPA UK delegation has previously said that it would hold in-country talks related to the bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and Ghana.

The conference is held annually to address global political issues and developments in the parliamentary systems throughout the Commonwealth.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Hajia Samira Bawumia, wife of the Vice President, has urged Muslim women to ‘hang up’ the deep-seated religious and cultural nuisances inhibiting their pursuit to attaining greater heights in life.

In the Quran, she said Muslim women had a diverse heritage of economic empowerment, including becoming successful businesswomen, entrepreneurs, traders, farmers, artisans, and philanthropists that dated back to the time of Prophet Mohammed.

Such illustrious women exemplified that Islam does not hold back women’s economic empowerment but provided them with several rights and opportunities to own property and inherit wealth.

‘Islam enjoins men as well to support women financially and morally in their endeavours. It also promotes education, skills development, and ethical conduct as essential elements for economic empowerment,’ she said.

Mrs Bawumia said this on Saturday in a speech read on her behalf at the 26th Annual Conference of the Federation of Muslim Women Association-Ghana (FOMWAG) at Kyiase near Komenda-Junction in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipality of the Central Region.

With its presence in 16 regions and 80 districts across the country, FOMWAG seeks to empower Muslim women to abide by the teachings of Islam through the Qur’an and the Hadith (Sunnah).

The bi-annual conference was on the theme: ‘Towards Economic Empowerment of the Muslim Women for a Sustainable Community.’

FOMWAG also held many activities including health screening, skills training, capacity building, donations, fund-raising to support education, and citations in honour of some members for their dedicated services.

Mrs Bawumia noted that despite those Islamic teachings, many Muslim women faced challenges including poverty, illiteracy, finance, technology, training and mentorship, discrimination, harassment, violence, and ethnic norms that restricted their mobility and choices.

Those challenges, she said, were not only detrimental to women’s well-being and dignity but their families, communities, and the nation’s development as well.

Consequently, a collective effort needed to be rallied to overcome the challenges through an enabling environment for women’s economic empowerment.

‘We need to mobilise our resources, capacities, networks, and voices to advocate policies and programmes that support women’s economic rights and opportunities,’ she said.

‘We have to collaborate with various stakeholders such as government agencies, civil society organisations, private sector actors, religious leaders, and the media to raise awareness and educate people about the importance and benefits of women’s economic empowerment.’

‘We must empower ourselves with knowledge, skills, and confidence to pursue our dreams and aspirations.’

She called for support for each other with guidance, mentorship, and solidarity among women to overcome their difficulties and celebrate their achievements.

Hajia Hajara Issahaku, the National Amirah of FOMWAG, said the group served as a liaison between Muslim women and the Government on policies.

It seeks to promote peaceful co-existence in communities, education, and advocacy against cultural inhibitions such as forced and early marriages, she said, and urged all Muslim women to join.

Mr Samuel Atta Mills, the Member of Parliament for KEEA, and Mr Ebo Appiah, the Municipal Chief Executive, traditional authorities, and Christian Mothers Association in fraternal messages, lauded FOMWAG for empowering women.

More importantly, they reiterated the essence of tolerance, respect for fundamental human rights, freedom of religion, respect for the rule of law, and kindness, which were factors that had nurtured the country’s peaceful coexistence.

Being tolerant and respectful to the rights of others were important aspects of civilization in the 21st century.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The University of Mines and Technology (TEIN-UMaT) chapter of the Tertiary Education Institutions Network of the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) has stated its support for the ‘Occupy BoG’ protest.

‘The unprecedented hardship in Ghana is largely attributable to the glaring financial malfeasance supervised by the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), ably supported by his two deputies…’

‘It is against this backdrop that TEIN-UMaT wishes to express its unabated and unwavering support for the ‘Occupy BoG’ Protest slated for October 3, 2023,’ the Network said in a press release copied to the Ghana News Agency signed by Shalom Kenedy-Zumedor, its President.

According to the statement, some activities of the BoG, including the ‘illegal’ printing of money in 2021 and 2022 and the writing off over S30billion of government debt without recourse to Parliament, constituted a fundamental breach of the Bank’s Act.

The statement said those activities by the BoG without regard to the law had allegedly sunk it into a loss of S60.8billion and a negative equity of S55.1billion as contained in the Auditor General’s report.

‘Amidst all these mismanagement, the Bank of Ghana under this government has resorted to the construction of a new headquarters for itself worth a staggering 250 million dollars.

‘This project is needless and turns a blind eye to the suffering the Ghanaian taxpayer has been subjected to by virtue of the government’s economic mismanagement,’ the statement read.

It called on citizens, especially students, to join the protest to demand the immediate resignation of the Bank’s Governor, his two deputies and board of directors for supervising and presiding over the alleged infractions.

‘Protesting is a right and we must exercise it to ensure that our voices are heard,’ the statement added.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Chiefs and people of the Kpando Traditional Area in the Volta Region have honoured the Volta/Oti Chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) for promoting tourism and driving business interests in the Akpini state.

The GJA received the commendation when organisers and ambassadors of the Volta Trade and Investment Fair Caravan made a stopover at Kpando for the ‘Visit Volta Initiative,’ as a prelude to this year’s Fair, at the forecourt of the Okpekpewuokpe Togbuiga Dagadu IX Palace.

The GJA-Volta/Oti has been instrumental in producing compelling stories for the Kpando Traditional Area and promoting tourist sites in the Akpini enclave, which Torgbuiga Dagadu had lauded.

He urged the media to continue to make Kpando and the entire region visible to the world through their reportage.

‘It is my firm expectation that Kpando, and by extension the entire Volta Region, will be promoted to the world through your reportage,’ he said.

Torgbuiga Dagadu gave his assurance ‘to continuously sell a culturally rich traditional area with a unique history and relentless spirit.’

Kpando is the spiritual and religious grounds of essence, the Agbenoxoe Grotto, the site for the biggest religious pilgrimage for adherents of Roman Catholics as well as home to awesome lake resources, fertile lands, the Fesi Pottery and Torkor fish market, among others.

Aside from the GJA-Volta/Oti, other tourism ambassadors like Bernard Avle, Emefa Apawu, Kafui Dey, Ivy Prosper, and Dzifa Gbeho-Bampoe, all media personalities, were also honoured.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Goro Mutaru Iddrisu, the Programme Analyst, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Ghana, has commended the Bono East Regional Coordinating Council for the support in implementing the Fund’s adolescent training project in the region.

He emphasised the significance of the RCC’s unwavering support and commitment to the project, which demonstrated the positive influence of the programme on the region.

Mr Iddrisu was speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Jema in the Kintampo South District at the end of a monitoring exercise of some community projects by the UNFPA’s officials from Accra.

The team assessed and evaluated the progress of the projects’ implementation, achievements, challenges, lessons learnt and the way forward.

The team observed ‘a noticeable positive impact’ on the beneficiaries during the engagement, who effectively expressed what they had learnt.

‘The encouraging outcome had motivated the UNFPA to persist in its efforts to strive for even greater results,’ Mr Iddrisu said.

He, however, acknowledged the existence of challenges that demanded attention, amongst which were the urgent need for a rescue habitat for victims of sexual and gender-based violence and child-marriage, which were top priority issues.

To overcome the above and related challenges, he called for intensive core-coordination among the implementation partners, health partners, and civil society organisations, saying strengthening that coordination would contribute to the overall success of the programme.

In a related interview, Ms Linda Adzo Dormepkor, a Senior Programmes Officer at the Ministry of Finance and a member of the monitoring team, recounted a male beneficiary confessing that prior to the training on sexual and gender-based violence, he struggled to differentiate between the terms defilement and rape.

All he knew was that victims should report the case, seek counseling and receive medical attention, however, with the education, he had gained understanding of the two terms and the dangers posed to victims.

Source: Ghana News Agency

President Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo has praised the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, for his leadership in ensuring the accomplishment of tasks at the Ministry.

Speaking at this year’s Odwira Festival of the Akuapem Traditional Council in the Eastern Region, the President was excited that the chiefs and people had found a reason to unite and forge together for their collective growth and development.

He expressed optimism that the remaining Council members who were yet to join the ‘united front’ would not hesitate to do so as the sector minister was poised to ensure that unity reigned.

‘I am very confident that Asabee, the Minister for Chieftaincy will see to it that the remaining Chiefs come on board as he is efficient at delivering any task assigned him so I know with our own Asabee as Minister, Akuapem will be united’ he said.

The President reiterated that a unity community in an atmosphere of peace would contribute to growth and development.

He assured the Chiefs and People of the Traditional Area of his unwavering support to ensure that they received their share of the national cake in terms of tourism and development.

The Okuapemhene Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akufo III, who spoke on the theme for the 2023 festival celebration; ‘Eco-Tourism for Sustainable Development’, appealed to the Government to resource the Akuapem Traditional Area to enhance its viability for tourism.

He wooed investors to Akuapem to reposition the Traditional Area as a tourist destination of choice.

The Okuapemhene assured that the 2023 Odwira festival marked a new beginning for the Akuapem Traditional Council and called on them to rally behind the new era to see development and oneness in Okuampeman.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Nana Akwasi Bosompra I, the Paramount Chief of Goaso Traditional Area, has announced his commitment to spearheading a day to honour only women cocoa farmers.

He said he would pursue that effort in collaboration with other paramount chiefs to designate the day to honour the women cocoa farmers.

He acknowledged that there was the need to celebrate the invaluable contributions of women in cocoa farming to bolster the confidence of those remarkable individuals as models in their respective communities for other young girls and women to emulate their achievements.

Nana Bosompra I, announced this when he was speaking at the Brong-Ahafo Women Co-operative Farmers and Marketing Central Union (BAWCOF) Limited festival 2023 at the Jubilee Park in Sunyani.

Held on the theme: ‘Empowering Women in Sustainable Development Goals, Nurturing Women, Nurturing Cocoa, Promoting Sustainability Together,’ the festival brought together about 7000 members from 96 societies in nine cocoa districts in the Brong-Ahafo Cocoa Region.

He commended the significance and the dedication of women engaged in cocoa farming, stating that the farming occupation was time-demanding and required constant attention and effort to ensure a bountiful harvest to gain the necessary financial returns and other rewards.

Nana Bosompra advised cocoa farmers in general, to explore additional avenues for skill development, particularly by harnessing the potential of cocoa byproducts, acquire additional employment skills, unlock new opportunities, and generate extra income to improve their livelihoods.

Ms Martha Addai, President of BAWCOF reiterated the cooperatives’ staunch commitment to its members’ financial well-being, saying achieving that goal required the establishment of credit unions to ensure continuous flow of financial support to the members.

She announced that BAWCOF envisioned the creation of an agrochemical shop, as a haven for farm inputs, catering not only for the needs of members but also the wider farming community.

Ms. Addai stressed the need for BAWCOF to have a more spacious office for the leadership to operate and engage members to address their concerns with utmost efficiency and professionalism.

Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and Mr Michael Asumanu, the Brong-Ahafo Cocoa Regional Administrator of the COCOBOD earlier addressed the participants and urged them to continue to work hard and enroll unto the Cocoa farmers pension scheme.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Angolan Vice President, Esperança da Costa, this Monday reinaugurated the Neves Bendinha Specialised General Hospital, in Luanda, after it uderwent deep rehabilitation, refurbishment and re-equipping.

With the rehabilitation, the new infrastructure, also known as “Hospital dos Queimados”(burn hospital), will gain new beds, three laboratories, Intensive Care Unit, and a Telemedicine Centre, as well as new wards.

With the new, fully-equipped laboratory, the Neves Bendinha Hospital will be able to carry out microbiological tests to determine the degree of infection in a safe and concrete way.

With the new operating room, the medical team will be able to streamline and increase the number of surgeries, reducing the waiting list.

Neves Bendinha, whose rehabilitation works lasted four years, has the capacity of 96 beds for in-patients.

After doing the unveiling act, Vice President Esperança da Costa – accompanied by the Minister of State for Social Affairs, Dalva Ringote, ministers, and the Luanda Province governor, among other Health Ministry’s senior staff – watched an institutional video on the different stages that involved the rehabilitation of this specialised hospital.

The Vice President also took a tour of the infrastructure through which she received information on the functioning of several areas.

Neves Bendinha General Hospital was operating provisionally in the Zango Urban District in Viana Municipality and, according to the director, the process of transferring the patients is already underway.

Meanwhile, a new Burn Hospital has been under construction since 2022 in the Kilamba Sattelite City and it should be completed by March next year.

Source: Angola Press News Agency