Day: November 28, 2023

A Development Planner has argued that digitalisation is a development tool and not a development policy as is being portrayed in the Ghanaian political circles.

Mr Nyaaba-Aweeba Azongo, said digitalisation, like any form of technology, was a planning tool employed to enhance development policy planning, programmes, projects or activities, and therefore, could not on its own be a substitute for the complex exercise of development planning policy.

Expressing his views on the two major policies-digitalisation and 24-hour economy, which were currently being debated by the front-line political parties ahead of the 2024 general election, he said it was important for Ghanaians to draw a distinction between a development policy and a planning tool.

He said planning as an art, had its own peculiar goals often christened in professional planning circles as ‘Romantic Goals’.

These goals are: efficiency, effectiveness, convenience, comfortability, flexibility etc.

Against this background any tool that was invented
and could be deployed to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, convenience, comfortability among others, in any existing activity or integrated into a development policy planning deliverables were considered as planning tools and not development policies, he explained.

Mr Azongo argued that it would therefore be inaccurate to describe these tools as development policies.

On the issue of the 24-hour economy development policy, Mr Azongo said ‘so far it is the most ambitious and overarching development policy proposal since the inception of the Fourth Republic.

What remained, however, was the planning and political commitment for a departure from the existing leadership order, to raise the standard of political policy-public engagement.

He said the visible landmark of leadership crisis, symbolic mediocrity and proletarian pride in the crumbs of wealthy nations amid abundant resources, provided a justifiable basis for more of such ambitious cutting-edge policy proposals and commitment for a new Ghanaian leaders
hip order.

‘I must emphasise that apart from the cutting-edge 24-hour Economy Development policy proposal, the maze of promises and manifestoes throughout the Fourth Republic are best described as ‘Little drops of water not capable of forming a development ocean,’ he told the GNA.

He stated that irrespective of any argument on the existing leadership order from any political lenses in the fourth republic there was one consensus, which was poverty.

Mr Azongo said poverty was widespread and pervasive in Ghana, especially among its youthful population.

This was rising at staggering levels without corresponding commitment to create opportunities for all without discrimination, and to guarantee a sustainable future free from the overbearing burden of debt, unemployment, diseases and cyclical poverty, Mr Azongo said.

He said the policy would require a Multi-Sectoral Planning Framework to build consensus and enlist lessons from successful models across the world as well as factor Ghana’s peculiar context to ado
pt a 24-hour development policy Model unique to the country’s economy.

He said there was a need for more ambitious policy proposals from all the political parties considering that the country’s development was at the crossroads of a critical turning point.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Stakeholders in environmental protection have expressed the need to leverage the potential of children to protect the environment, restore degraded lands and mitigate climate change impacts.

Environmental destruction, they said, continued to be a major challenge for many countries, leading to worsening climatic impacts on sectors such as agriculture and water, which threatened the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The environmental protection experts, teachers, and policy makers among others said children had significant role to play to reverse the trend when empowered with skills and knowledge on environmental protection and given the right tools to do so.

The experts made the call at Tongo in the Upper East Region during a review meeting of Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) Eco Clubs project being implemented in the Talensi District of the region.

The two-year project was implemented by the Forum for Natural Regeneration (FONAR), an environmentally focused organization, in coll
aboration with the Ghana Education Service, with funding support from the Awaken Trees Foundation of Austria.

Fifteen basic schools in the district benefited from the project, which provided the children with basic tree management skills to undertake environmental restoration initiatives in the schools.

They did that through the FMNR approach, which involves regenerating shrubs and stumps naturally without planting new trees.

Mr Sumaila Saaka, the Executive Director of FONAR, noted that children, constituting approximately 23 per cent of Ghana’s population, also contributed to environmental degradation and were adversely affected by such activities.

He said children were agents of change and should not be left behind in strategies and measures to preserve the environment.

‘Once we build their capacities and make them understand the importance of preserving the environment, particularly trees in their communities, we will address the environmental challenges that we face because they are the future leader
s,’ he said.

Mr Saaka urged the communities, schools and the district assemblies to support the children by making lands available with the right tools to practice the FMNR concept to protect the environment.

The FMNR Eco Clubs and partners aim to empower young people to become environmental stewards and agents of positive change to address complex challenges such as the effects of climate change.

The review meeting was to evaluate the successes of the activities of the project being implemented within the two years which had benefited 300 students and 30 teachers directly.

The results from the assessment revealed that teachers and pupils had gained deeper understanding, knowledge and skills relating to natural regeneration of native trees and shrubs to mitigate deforestation and bushfires.

Mr Saaka noted that the project was undergoing redesigning for a second phase implementation.

Mr Titus Alzumah, the Human Resources Manager of the Talensi District Directorate, Ghana Education Service, commended FONA
R for instilling environmental protection values in the pupils and teachers to change behaviours.

Mr Robert Abeero Alpha, the Talensi District Director, National Disaster Management Organisation, said natural disasters were increasing and wild animals were becoming extinct due to destruction of the environment and called for collective stakeholder approach to address the menace.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ashanti regional secretariat of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) is placing emphasis on cash crop production as part of efforts to reduce poverty and increase foreign exchange earnings for the country.

The regional MoFA is currently focusing on the planting of cash crops such as coconut, cashew, oil palm, mango and others, and has since 2018, distributed a total of 8,132,515 seedlings of varied cash crops to farmers and institutions to plant in the region.

Reverend Dr John Manu, Regional Director of Agriculture, who made this known said the region was taking advantage of the government’s Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) initiative to increase cash crop production to help improve incomes of farmers and reduce poverty in region.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview ahead of the 39th national farmers’ day celebrations, he said over three million seedlings of cashew alone had been distributed to farmers within the last five years.

All these activities, he explained
, were intended to project and support the government’s policies of boosting agricultural production to increase exports, reduce poverty among farmers and stabilize the economy.

Rev. Dr Manu said the Planting for Food and Jobs had benefited many farmers adding that between 2017 and 2022, almost one million farmers in Ashanti had benefitted from the initiative.

He said as part of efforts to develop a competitive and more efficient livestock industry that increased domestic production, reduced importation of livestock products and contributed to employment generation, over 1,100 piglets had been distributed to about two hundred farmers in the region.

Again, out-breeder sheep farmers have received 815 sheep whereas the Ejura Breeding Station has been given 613 sheep to breed for onward distribution to farmers.

A total of 40,000 broilers were supplied and distributed to 19 poultry farmers to expand production.

Rev. Dr. Manu reiterated the role agriculture played in ensuring food security and reducing poverty
among others, saying the role agriculture played during the COVID-19 pandemic was an ample testimony of the crucial role of the sector.

He, therefore, urged Ghanaians to continue to support the government’s efforts at making the sector attractive enough to help create jobs and ensuring socio-economic development.

On the Greenhouse Technology Development House Village Module, the MoFA Rev. Dr Manu said vegetables produced in the greenhouse at Akumadan were in higher demand on the domestic market.

The facility, he said, sold high-quality vegetables to shopping malls and restaurants across the country.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Abdulai Abanga, the Deputy Minister of Works and Housing, says the Ministry is actively engaged in revising and enacting new laws to address institutional gaps for a robust foundation for the housing industry to implement best practices.

He said the policies were geared towards transforming the industry in aligning with the infrastructure development agenda of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

‘As part of this effort, the Ministry is spearheading the establishment of the Ghana House Authority. This regulatory body would collaborate with the private sector developers to oversee plan and manage housing development in Ghana,’ he stated.

Mr Abanga made this known when he launched the Legato Height residence located at Ridge in Accra, which was constructed by Vaal Real Estate – Ghana, the second housing project of the company.

He said the Rent Act of 1963 (Act 220), which was in a existence for 60 years was undergoing a comprehensive review to align with modern trends and dynamics in the housing secto
r.

‘The aim of this legislative revision is to eliminate constraints on housing availability, safeguard low-income and vulnerable tenants and promote private sector development businesses.’

The Deputy Minister said the Ministry would continue to create the enabling environment for the real estate sector to thrive while expanding other initiatives aimed at ensuring that new homes were constructed and delivered in a more sustainable manner.

He stated that the government would subsidise housing units with land and infrastructure while the private sector would contribute to building apartments on cost recovery basis.

Mr Abanga said Vaal Real Estate projects were not just about the buildings, and that; ‘they take into consideration the people who will call communities home, they are committed to creating neighbourhoods that foster connections, understanding and shared experience.

‘Their goal is to cultivate thriving communities where residents can forge lasting relationships, build memories and support each o
ther.’

He commended the executives and the staff of Vaal Real Estate for their collaboration with the government to make the venture possible, saying; ‘This confirms that the needed platform has been created by the Ministry of Works and Housing which is attracting the private sector investment in the housing sector.’

Mr Alaa Zayed, Chief Executive, Vaal Ghana, said as part of the company’s plans for the next two years, it would bring six new projects at prime locations with high rise buildings as they started with the Harmonious Villas and now the Legato Heights.

‘We will make some diversification by providing European style apartments in the heart of the city of Accra in the coming two years. Our focus is always on quality and location. Our clients don’t mind about the price, what they need is quality after the right location.’

Mr Nazir Ahma, Head of Sales, Vaal Ghana, in an interview, said the company was unique as compared to others because of its 20 years of experience in real estate and offer of retu
rn on investment as well as amazing brands in its apartments, lifestyle and luxury.

He said Legato Height had 20 floors and that prices were competitive that with 3,000 dollars one could get a unit.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ghana Youth Movement (GYEM), has organised a programme to educate the public on plastic management, their proper disposal, recycling and called for strict measures to end single-use plastics.

Single-use plastics are those that can be used only ones, and include; polythene bags, plastic cotton buds, Styrofoam, coffee cups, and plastic straws.

Mr Samuel Boadi Duah, the Campaign’s lead of GYEM, addressing the public said plastic pollution was causing harm to the environment and health, and an immediate stand ought to be taken to avoid the use of single- plastics.

‘These plastics are creating filthy environments, causing the spread of mosquitoes and houseflies resulting to cholera and malaria in society,’ he said.

Mr Buah who was speaking at a sensitisation and clean-up campaign exercise to create public awareness, noted that, government imposing tax on plastics was not the appropriate step towards solving the plastic pollution problem, because end-users would still purchase them for their businesses.

Mr Du
ah said rather, there was the need to educate end-users about the long-term negative effects of using single-use plastics in their daily lives and on the environment.

He urged the public to embrace the new culture of utilising other re-useable materials such as cane baskets, reusable bags, wooden cotton bags, reusable cups and ceramics to avoid the menace of scattered plastics on the planet.

Market women were taught how to make re-usable bags from old fabrics and clothes to serve as market shopping bags.

These alternatives would help avoid improper disposal of rubbish, reduce expenditure on sanitation and health, which would result in protected environment, beaches, and communities.

‘When our beaches are clean it would attract tourists to the country and generate revenue for us,’ he said.

He called on all stakeholders, government, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), members of parliament, and private industries to support this initiative.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Kenneth Adu-Amanfoh, the Director General, Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), says Ghana is making steady progress in the reduction of drug use and demand, which is a public health challenge.

Though he could not substantiate the claim with verifiable data, Mr Adu-Amanfo said the Commission was empowering the public to make informed decisions to reduce drug abuse and its related threats to health.

He said drug usage had become a regional concern across the West African channel, and stakeholders must work together to ensure that the threat was effectively and proactively addressed by the respective member state agencies and their partners.

The NACOC Act 2020, Act 1019, recognised that drug use was a public health issue, thus people with drug use disorders were treated with respect, dignity, and rehabilitated rather than incarcerated, he noted.

Mr Adu-Amanfoh said this at the launch of the third edition of the 2020-2022 West African Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (WENDU) Report of Statistics and Tre
nds on Illicit Drug Supply and Use in Accra on Monday.

The Report provides a comprehensive overview of the evolving patterns in drug supply and usage, empowering people to make informed decisions and implement effective strategies.

It also serves as a compass guiding the country through the complex landscape of drug-related issues in West Africa.

Mr Adu-Amanfoh said Ghana appreciated and understood the enormous national security challenges posed by illicit drug trafficking on its nationals and that of member states of ECOWAS, therefore, it was adopting evidence-based scientific approaches in treating persons with substance use disorders.

The country would continue to work closely with other member states in protecting borders, citizens and, more importantly, the youth, he said.

‘It is incumbent upon us all to utilise this knowledge to enhance our preventive measures, strengthen law enforcement, and implement targeted interventions to address the root causes of drug-related issues,’ Mr Adu-Amanfoh said.

He urged all agencies in West Africa and by extension the African Continent, to take the issue of illicit drug abuse and its related vices seriously.

Professor Fatou Sow Sarr, Commissioner, Human Development and Social Affairs, ECOWAS, in a speech read on her behalf, said the Commission had ensured the sustainability of WENDU, with measures put in place yielding the desired results.

The first WENDU Report covered 2014 to 2017, the second from 2018 to 2019, and the third, 2020 to 2022, she said.

‘It is our plan that the subsequent reports will be published yearly so as to make the reports more current than it is now, a credible and current WENDU report is crucial to improving evidence-based drug prevention and control activities both at the national and regional levels,’ Prof Sarr said.

Ms Anna Lixi, Head of Governance and Security, EU Delegation to Ghana, said the absence of verifiable data on the prevalence of drug use in West Africa meant that the scale of the phenomenon had largely gone unreported.

Sh
e said the report would help inform tailored responses to address the social, health and economic consequences of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in West Africa.

Ms Lixi said since the inception of Enhancing African Capacity (ENACT), it had published relevant and accessible reports on a range of transnational organised crime issues and challenges affecting the continent.

‘The analysis and insights generated by the ENACT project in turn serve to inform policy-makers and strengthen cooperation at the regional and international levels,’ she added.

WENDU is an ECOWAS project aimed at improving the information base for policymakers from member states and Mauritania to address the social, health and economic consequences of alcohol and drug use through the establishment of a local sentinel surveillance network.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Pearson Edexcel hosted its 2023 Pearson Ghana Principal’s Forum and the Outstanding Pearson Learner Award (OPLA) event in Accra.

A statement issued by Pearson Ghana and copied to the Ghana News Agency said the event was on the theme, ‘Building an ecosystem of excellence’.

It said as the world’s largest education company, operating in over 100 countries and catering to millions of learners and educators, Pearson Education holds the distinction of being the UK’s largest awarding organisation.

It noted that with a mission dedicated to making a measurable impact on enhancing people’s lives through learning, Pearson provided an international curriculum rooted in the UK curriculum.

It said the comprehensive offering encompassed academic qualifications, resources, and support services, ensuring that students aged three to 19 could seamlessly progress from elementary school to university, further education, and employment.

The statement said the academic qualifications arm of Pearson operated under the distingu
ished brand name Pearson Edexcel, delivering curriculum tailored for schools spanning Early Years through Primary, Lower Secondary, International GCSE, and International A Levels. Currently, approximately 30 schools in Ghana were entrusted with delivering this world-class curriculum at various levels.

Mr Gabriel Sowah Mensah, the Regional Development Manager for West Africa, Pearson Edexcel, commended the schools implementing the Pearson curriculum for their unwavering commitment, diligence, and determination to empower the young minds under their care.

The statement said on the theme ‘Building an Ecosystem of Excellence,’ the forum brought together heads of schools and departments to celebrate the successes of the past academic year, address challenges, and provide updates on new developments by Pearson aimed at enriching their teaching and learning processes.

Mrs Christine Evans, the Business Development Manager for Sub Saharan Africa, Pearson Edexcel, presented in-depth support and new USPs available fr
om Pearson to the schools.

The statement said one of the key highlights of this presentation was Pearson’s introduction of Modular International GCSE and the Mock services.

Mr Grant Bulmuo, Lead consultant at the Africa Education Gateway was the special guest, speaking to the theme, he emphasised the need for excellence from school leaders to drive it through the school’s ecosystem and this could be achieved through a clear vision and commitment to the vision.

The statement said the highlight of the event was the presentation of the Outstanding Pearson Learner Awards for schools using the Pearson Curriculum in Ghana.

The statement said a total of 10 students from across Ghana and one student from the Ivory Coast were honored with National, Continental, and Global awards based on their exceptional performance in Pearson Edexcel exams at the Primary and Lower Secondary levels.

It said out of the 10 awards for Ghana, four students achieved the highest marks globally, two students were recognised as the high
est mark recipients in Africa, and four students were lauded for achieving the highest marks in Ghana.

It said the recognition underscored the outstanding achievements of both students and schools in their commitment to academic excellence within the Pearson Edexcel framework.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The final calendar for this year’s edition of the ‘December in GH’ events has been unveiled, in Accra.

The Calendar presented by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Beyond the Return Secretariat (BTR), highlights several events across the length and breadth of the country to bring numerous benefits to the entire tourism and creative arts ecosystem.

Since its launch in 2019 by GTA as part of The ‘Year of Return’, ‘December in GH’ has become a major highlight on Ghana’s cultural and tourism calendar, attracting visitors from around the world who are eager to experience the nation’s vibrant heritage , arts and entertainment scene.

This year’s calendar promises an even more spectacular showcase, offering a platform to explore Ghana and connect with several local communities during the festive season.

The collaboration between the Ghana Tourism Authority and event organizers is instrumental in making December in GH a resounding success each year.

Mr. Akwasi Agyeman, CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority,
expressed his excitement and gratitude for the unveiling of the ‘December in GH’ calendar.

He said, ‘We are thrilled to present the final calendar for ‘December in GH’ 2023. This year’s events promise to showcase the best of Ghana’s culture, music, heritage, and entertainment scene. We extend our gratitude to all event organizers for their support in partnering with the Authority to make this a truly memorable and impactful celebration.’

According to data from the Ghana Tourism Authority, December in GH activities contribute significantly to the tourism value chain and ecosystem, creating a positive impact on various sectors especially for SMEs.

He said the events generated increased tourism demand, leading to higher hotel occupancy rates, restaurant visits, transportation usage, and local artisan sales. This surge in economic activity benefits business owners, creatives, and entrepreneurs, as well as the local communities . Moreover, the December activities contribute to the preservation and promotion of
Ghana’s rich cultural heritage.

Ms. Annabelle McKenzie, Director of the Beyond the Return Secretariat, said the unveiling of the calendar marked the culmination of months of careful curation and collaboration.

‘We are proud to offer an unforgettable experience that fosters deeper connections within the global African diaspora and our local Ghanaian community.’

She noted that detailed information about the events listed in the final calendar could be found on www.decemberingh.com, and would be continuously promoted on social media platforms and official websites.

‘We encourage everyone to follow Ghana Tourism Authority and Beyond the Return on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok,for updates and further details.’

In all, about 178 events have be approved for the ‘December in GH’ events.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Sixth African Union Judicial Dialogue, on the theme ‘Promoting Human Rights in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities of Transposing Regional and International Human Rights Jurisprudence into National Jurisdictions,’ has ended in Algiers, Algeria.

Over 100 top judicial officials from across the continent, including Chief Justices, Constitutional Court Presidents, and Judges, attended the dialogue, which was used to deepen the promotion of human rights and the effective administration of justice in Africa.

Lady Justice Imani Daud Aboud, President of the African Court, noted during the session the challenges and opportunities of transposing regional and international Human Rights Jurisprudence into National Jurisdictions.

She said it underpinned the theme of the dialogue and the importance of consistency and convergence in interpreting regional and international human rights standards at the national level.

The African Court President noted that, given the intrinsic relationship between human rights, int
egration, peace, and development, the role of human rights bodies, and particularly the African Court, is extremely important.

‘History teaches us that an independent judiciary is indispensable for the socio-economic and political development of any community.

‘It is hoped that this biennial African judicial jamboree provided an avenue for fruitful exchange of experiences and best practices and helped come up with ways of improving the protection of human rights on the continent,’ she noted.

Lady Justice Aboud said immediately after the conclusion of the dialogue, the African Court would deliver nine judgements and proceed to examine 13 cases on its cause list for the session.

‘We will also consider, among other items, a proposal on the disposal of cases for 2024, the draft guidelines on compliance hearings, the draft manual on procedures before the court, reports on sensitization visits to Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, and Cape Verde, as well as a number of administrative matters,’ she noted.

The d
ialogue was officially opened by Mr Nadir Larbaouni, Prime Minister of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria who represented President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, while Mr Abderrachid Tabi, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals od the People’s Republic of Algeria performed the official welcoming.

The African Court is collaborating with the African Union, the European Union, GIZ and the United Nations and the Government of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria for the dialogue.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Forestry Commission and University of Energy and Natural Resources have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to train field technicians whose services are in dire need.

The about 400 young people targeted to begin the training course would be called range supervisors and are expected to fill the gap created due to retirements, attrition and sometimes death across the country.

As technicians and first level managers at our forest reserves, their core mandate specifically would be supervising the boundary cleaning and protection done by the forest guards, doing stock survey of the forest reserves, check surveys, to at all times know all the trees like mahogany and odumn.

The trainees would be drawn from the Forestry Commission and the public across the nation and would go through a three-semester course that would last for a duration of 16 months at the Forestry Commission Training Center (FCTC) in Ejisu, Ashanti Region.

The University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) together with the Trai
ning Center had developed a curriculum for the 16-months programme and lecturers from both institutes, including some technocrats from the Commission, would take the trainees through field works.

Some of key concepts within the programme would be pollution prevention, tackling of climate change and environmental challenges, pest infestations, technology usage and advancement like drones and satellite images usage amongst others.

Mr John Allotey, Chief Executive, Forestry Commission, who signed the MoU on behalf of the Commission, said, the decision to train young professionals had been a long standing goal since they were able to churn out professionals in various fields.

He said the collaboration with the University would not only give certification and promotion at work but quality assurance which would be crucial to achieving Commission’s objectives.

‘We are supposed to protect, develop and manage our forest. The numbers we have currently is worrying because we have only 179 range supervisors as agains
t the expected 350. Even with the 179, half of them should not be in the field because physically they have gone beyond their prime,’ Mr Allotey said.

Prof Elvis Asare-Bediako, Vice Chancellor, UENR, said the partnerships was key in the advancement of both institutions and the MoU signified the relationship between academia and industry.

He said they were determined to make the MoU a working document to ensure success, adding that the University was established to address key challenges of our national development.

‘The job of the Forestry Commission is essential and we have a role to play. The areas we are going to emphasize will be the training, research, projects and other community engagements . We therefore pledge a full commitment to this MoU,’ Prof Asare-Bediako added.

Dr Andy Osei Okrah, Director, Forestry Commission Training Center, said both institutions had put the curriculum together and it would be intensive and practical in nature.

‘More of our experienced managers and technocrats would be
involved in the tuition. By March I think the first group should be in session and the MoU is renewable after three years,’ he stated.

Source: Ghana News Agency