Day: April 5, 2024

Farmer-Herder conflicts are contributing to increased poverty in the Afram Plain areas of Asante-Akim North and Sekyere Afram Plain Districts, a recent study has revealed.

The study, conducted by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), in collaboration with the University for Development Studies (UDS), University for Energy and natural resources (UENR) and the University of Copenhagen, sought to come out with recommendations to serve as basis for policy or change in practice to reduce the conflicts.

Dubbed ‘Access Authority Nexus in Farmer-Herder Project’, the study which started in 2019 involved two Post doctorate students, three PhD and 11 Master students, with funding from the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA).

Consequently, a project completion and science policy workshop has been held to share findings with stakeholders and also discuss the roles they could play to reduce Farmer-Herder conflicts. It was attended by participants drawn from the two districts, incl
uding community leaders, traditional leaders, farmers, cattle owners, the researchers, and representatives from the Assemblies.

Also in attendance were representatives from the Universities who participated in the research, Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), National Peace Council, and the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC).

Professor Boateng Kyereh, the Project Coordinator, said virtually all the actors in the areas where the research was conducted, were experiencing increased poverty with exception of the Herders who migrated from elsewhere to those areas.

‘Their poverty didn’t get worse because the areas where they normally migrate from is severe in terms of climate effects.’

So they lose a lot of animals if they don’t migrate and when they come here despite the fact that a lot of their animals are killed, at least they are able to save some of them,’ he further explained.

He said lack of dialogue between the feuding factions over the years was a contributory factor to the long-standing conflic
ts between the farmers and the herders.

Professor Kyereh indicated that, until the beginning of the project, there was no dialogue mechanism to address the concerns of either party, adding that there had been some progress since the project started in terms of people’s behaviour and utterances.

‘I will suggest that going forward dialogue must be the main approach to resolving the conflicts,’ he noted.

He also spoke about lack of regulations which had created room for people to do whatever they wanted, disclosing that the project supported the Assemblies to come out with bye laws to spell out the responsibilities of each party.

Mr. Bryan Acheampong, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, in a speech read on his behalf, underlined the need to find lasting solutions to the perennial conflicts between farmers and herders who were both contributing to food security in the country.

He said the relative peace in the area for the past few years was commendable and praised the implementers of the Access Authority
Nexus in Farmer-Herder Project, for the initiative to find workable solutions for the age-long menaced.

He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to work closely with all relevant stakeholders to find lasting solutions for the conflicts to maximise food production in the country.

The participating Universities and the two Assemblies also took turns to share their experiences with the project and their commitments to helping address the problem.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The 1992 Constitution remains supreme and supersedes any customary law in the country, Mr Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, the Deputy Attorney General (A-G) and Minister of Justice, has said.

‘If the constitution meets tradition and custom, it overrides them,’ he said, explaining that ‘as the supreme law of the land, the fundamental principle of the constitution stood as the ultimate authority upon which the society stands.’

The Deputy A-G stated this in an interview with the media in Sunyani, in the wake of the alleged marriage of a 12-year old girl to 63-year-old Gborbu Wulomo which happened at Nungua, Accra.

‘If your tradition says you can marry someone who is below 18 years, and our constitutions say no and the constitution is supreme’, Mr Tuah-Yeboah said, adding anybody who breached the law would be prosecuted.

He explained that the law permitted and allowed only girls, 18 years and above to marry, though girls 16 years and above could consent for sex, saying it was illegal to have sex with girls below aged 16
years.

‘Anybody who is not 18 years and above cannot not consent to marry or to be married’, he stated and warned that the law would not deal leniently with perpetrators of child marriage.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr. William Kidinang Mawugma, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Nkwanta North in the Oti Region, has urged residents to avoid using derogatory words to describe the status of persons with disabilities.

He emphasised that using such language not only perpetuated negative stereotypes but also undermined their rights and dignity.

According to Mr Nawugma, it is crucial to treat all individuals with respect and dignity, regardless of their physical or mental abilities.

The DCE also highlighted the harmful effects of derogatory language, which could contribute to discrimination against persons with disabilities.

He stressed the importance of recognising the unique abilities and contributions of all members of society, regardless of any perceived limitations.

The Nkwanta North District Assembly supported persons with disabilities with refrigerators, sewing machines, bundle of iron sheets, bags of cement, wheelchairs and physical cash.

This is part of a strategy to improve their living conditions.

The DCE
urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the items to change their standard of living so that they would not end up on the street to survive.

Mr. Bright Nkrow, the Nkwanta North District Social Welfare Director, also called on residents to be mindful of their language and refrain from denigrating persons with disabilities.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A call has been made to include the youth of the country in peace advocacy to harness their experiences to promote a peaceful and cohesive society.

Kpan-Naa Abubakari Andani, Chief of Kpano in the Nanton District of the Northern Region, who made the call, said, ‘The youth are energetic and creative, and they have the ability to discover new ideas and new ways of solving problems.’

He added ‘They mostly see solutions that the older generation may overlook. By including the youth in peace advocacy, society will benefit from their creativity and innovation.’

He made the call while addressing a two-day training in Tamale on preventing violent extremism organised for selected youth from the Tamale Metropolis.

Facilitators were drawn from the Northern Regional Peace Council of the University for Development Studies, YEFL-Ghana and the Catholic Relief Services (CRS).

Participants were taken through topics such as understanding conflict and conflict resolution tools, identity and community, gender, youth and pr
eventing violent extremism, and the role of communication in preventing violent extremism.

It was to equip the youth with knowledge and skills to be able to detect, and disseminate information to communities and their friends to ensure that as the country entered the election season, they would act positively when the need arose.

The training, which ended in Tamale on Thursday, was organised by the CRS as part of its implementation of phase two of the Prevention of Violent Extremism through Social Accountability (PoVETSA) project, which is funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The project, which is being implemented in partnership with the National Peace Council, and the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, seeks to ensure that national peace and security actors improve civilian trust and confidence in security services for the prevention of violent extremism.

Kpa-Naa Andani, who represented the Northern Regional House of Chiefs, said engaging the youth in peace advocacy
would enhance continuous efforts towards maintaining peace, and society would create a generation of skilled and experienced ambassadors, who would always be willing to contribute to peacebuilding.

Chief Superintendent Mr Daniel Dzam-Tse, Commander, Sagnarigu District Police Command, narrated experiences in some war-torn countries, saying ‘We do not want a violent situation in Ghana’ because it did not promote development and fellow feeling.

He advised young people to be wise in their choices and desist from acts that could fuel or promote violent extremist tendencies.

Assistant Superintendent of Immigration, Mr Akominya Akanue Mogaga, told the youth not to allow themselves to be used by any member of society to foment trouble since such acts were not desirable.

Mr Timothy Akanpabadai, Head of Office, CRS, Tamale Sub Office, said, Violent extremist activities are inimical to our development, it is inimical to youth progress, it is inimical to our social life,’ and urged the youth to guard against such act
s.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr. John Dramani Mahama, Former President and Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), on Thursday led the Party’s delegation in the Bono Region to pay their last respect to Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri II, the late Paramount Chief of Sunyani.

Mr. Mahama, was accompanied by the National and regional executives, members of Parliament, parliamentary aspirants, and party faithful, in mourning the loss of the esteemed paramount chief.

Speaking at the final funeral rites of the late paramount Chief of Sunyani, Mr Mahama praised the strong relationship that existed between the late chief and the party.

He highlighted the longstanding bond that began during the tenure of the late former President Flt. Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings, continued through the administration of the late Professor John Evans Atta Mills, and his administration until Nana Nkrawiri’s demise.

Reflecting on their relationship, Mr. Mahama recalled Nana Nkrawiri ‘s appointments as Chairman of the Board of Community Water and Sanita
tion by late President Rawlings, followed by his chairmanship of the regional Lands Commission and other engagements with the NDC party.

He noted that because the NDC exited from office approximately eight years ago, road projects initiated in the Municipality during the late paramount chief’s era had since been neglected.

Assuring the queen mother and the people of Sunyani, Mr. Mahama pledged to address and complete all abandoned road projects once the NDC assumed office in 2025.

He expressed confidence in the party’s ability to secure victory in the upcoming 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer and the party expressed their gratitude by donating Ghc 100,000, packs of bottled water, assorted drinks, schnapps, and energy drinks in honour of the late chief.

In a similar gesture of respect, the founder of the Movement for Change, Mr. Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten, along with members of his movement, joined the Chiefs and people of Sunyani to mourn the l
ate paramount chief.

They also contributed Ghc 10,000, schnapps, assorted drinks, and packs of bottled water to the traditional council.

During the fourth day of the seven-day funeral rites, members of the council of Zongo Chiefs in the region paid their reverences.

Additionally, representatives from the regional Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority, National Commission for Civic Education, Ghana Prisons, Ghana Fire Service, Centre for National Culture, Sunyani Garages Association, Ghana Revenue Authority, Bono Queen Mothers Association, and the general public also joined in mourning the late paramount chief.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Prof John Asafu-Adjaye, a Senior Fellow at the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET), says all political parties will sign the Ghana Compact contract on June 27, 2024, in Kumasi.

He explained that the Ghana Compact was a form of agreement between citizens of Ghana and political leaders to address issues facing the country in the areas of health, and education and five others after the election.

Prof Asafu-Adjaye was speaking at a three-day Compact Citizens’ Engagement organised by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) at Koforidua.

The engagement which is on the theme: ‘Compact for Ghana’s Political and Economic Transformation,’ is expected to record 120 participants, including 40 each from the private sector, the general public and the youth for each day.

Prof Asafu-Adjaye observed that Ghana kept losing millions of money to uncompleted projects by the government each time there was a change of political leadership.

‘What is happening now is that one government comes into power
then starts a project and when another one comes, he throws the project away causing millions of dollars and starts a new project,’ he noted.

Prof Asafu-Adjaye said the actions of the government had delayed Ghana’s development even after visiting the International Monetary Fund 17 times since independence.

As a result, he stressed the need to interact with all stakeholders such as civil society, private sector business owners, parliament, policy analysts, youth and others to identify challenges confronting the country and provide possible solutions.

These challenges and possible solutions, Prof Asafu-Adjaye indicated would be put together as a document and presented to all political parties to sign as a contract to accomplish when any of them was voted into power.

Ms Ophelia Ankrah, the Eastern Regional Director of NCCE, said seven regions were selected to hold the Compact Citizens’ Engagement, adding that the Eastern Region was the second region to hold after the Volta Region.

The remaining regions, she
mentioned, were Greater Accra, Western, Bono East, Savannah and Upper East Regions.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Government of Ghana has conferred on Kenya’s President William Ruto the country’s highest honour for his exemplary leadership and commitment to democratic governance.

The Companion of the Order of the Star of the Volta award is in recognition of the President’s ‘principles of accountability and due process to all citizens no matter their status in society’.

‘Under your leadership, Kenya has become a shining example of a nation governed by the rule of law,’ President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said, as he decorated the visiting Kenyan President with the award, at a State banquet in Accra.

President Ruto’s State visit to Ghana aimed at deepening bilateral ties with the host country, particularly within the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement, to enhance shared economic growth.

The key highlights of the visit encompassed the signing of Memoranda of Understanding between the two Governments to increase trade volumes, exchanging development ideas and also leading the rea
lisation of the AfCFTA Agreement.

Ghana and Kenya are considered some two of Africa’s formidable democracies – upholding the culture of the rule of law and good governance, which had eluded many countries on the continent for several years.

President Nana Akufo-Addo stated that, under President Ruto’s leadership, Kenya had regained its place of pride at the international stage as the East African country remained vocal on some critical issues such as climate change.

The Ghanaian President lauded his colleague for his resilience in seeing to the transformation of the Kenyan economy, declining inflation, growth in start-ups and the number of the citizenry set to have access to housing and health insurance.

President Ruto, who was elated by the honour, commended the Government of Ghana for the award.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Women farmers at Fosukrom in the Bia East District of the Western North Region have been trained to adopt and apply indigenous technology in their farm work to improve crop yields and mitigate climate change impact in the area.

The more than 150 women farmers, engaged in cocoa, maize, rice and vegetable production, were taken through the process of preparing and properly applying organic manure.

They are expected to apply the locally produced compost (herbicides and pesticides) to their crops instead of over-relying on imported fertilizers and agro-chemicals.

That would not only reduce the cost of farming, but also prevent food poisoning and further mitigate climate change impact, which is well felt in the farming community and beyond.

The Fosukrom Women Farmers Association (FWFA), a local farmer group, with support from the Global Greengrants Fund (GGF) organised the day’s training which exposed the farmers to factors contributing to climate change and other adaptation and mitigation measures.

Madam Al
ice Badu Sarpong, a local expert in organic manure production, and a facilitator at the training, said proper application of compost did not only improve crop production, but also enhanced quality yields and high nutritional content.

She expressed worry that most of the indigenous women farmers over-depended on imported fertilizers, and other agro-chemicals, and because they could not afford to buy, the crops of many of them could not do well in the farming season.

With the training, the farmers would only get and mix some leaves and apply them on their crops, she told the Ghana News Agency (GNA). The process is very easy and what the women farmers would do is to come together, and produce the organic manure in large quantities and apply it on their farms.

Individual farmers could also produce and apply the compost themselves, and by doing so they would also improve the moisture quality and thereby, enhance land fertility to enable them grow their crops year-long, Madam Sarpong indicated.

Madam Mavis Odoi
, the Secretary of the FWFA, expressed appreciation to the GGF for the funding support, which had also well positioned the Association to intensify farmer-education on remote causes, impacts and the debilitating consequences of climate change.

She said with the education, many of the farmers had understood why they should not fell trees haphazardly, burn their farms and also avoid farming close to river and water bodies.

Mr Abdul Karim Mohammed, the Assemblyman for Fosukrom Electoral Area, raised concern about the misapplication of fertilizers, and other agro-chemicals on crops and described the training as timely, and commended the organisers, hoping that the training would be extended to benefit more farmers in the area.

He called on the government and other development partners to assist the farmers with planting machines, processing and storage facilities for rice and maize, and expressed worry about lack of ready markets for the cereals too.

Mr Mohammed said accessing farm lands was not a problem in
the area, saying, with the machines, and irrigation facilities, the farmers in the area could produce rice and maize in commercial quantities, not only to improve their socio-economic livelihoods, but also enhance food productivity in the area as well.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Some experts have emphasised the need for cybersecurity literacy to enhance strategic risk management in the capital market.

This, they said, would enable the Nigerian capital market to harness the advantages of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

They gave the advice at the 2024 Company Secretaries and Registrars’ Forum organised by the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) on Thursday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the event was: ‘The Implications of Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity on capital market Operations.’

Mr Simon Aranonu, the Executive Director, Large Enterprises Directorate, Bank of Industry (BoI), said the advancements in AI technology had permeated every facet of the capital market industry, revolutionising processes and boosting efficiency.

Aranonu noted that corporate governance presented an opportunity for board members and top management teams to continually refine their communication skills, bring cyber-litera
cy to the boardroom, and enhance their organisations cyber resilience.

He stated that while capital markets around the globe were the most data-sensitive segment of the financial industry, AI was reshaping how traders, investors, and financial institutions perceive, analyse, and interact with the markets.

According to him, in recent years, capital markets have witnessed a surge in diverse investment opportunities, with massive support from private sector institutions in collaboration with the Federal Government.

Aranonu stated that the integration of new and innovative had resulted in increased economic activities, while making the markets susceptible to cyber attacks.

‘Currently, Nigeria’s capital market is expected to reposition the economy along a path of sustained growth by broadening asset classes, improving liquidity, and deepening transactions.

‘The more investments that come into the capital market, the better the economic growth and development outlook.

‘Accordingly, proactive measures must be
put in place to safeguard the volume of transactions in the capital market,’ Aranonu said.

He listed impacts of AI and cybersecurity practices in capital markets to include: algorithmic trading, fraud detection, risk management and compliance automation, portfolio management among others.

Aranonu stressed that there were preventive strategies for individuals, firms and the general society to prevent and mitigate the impact of cybercrime.

‘As we look forward to a cyber-secure future, driven by technology and innovation, there will be opportunities as well as challenges in our day-to-day operations.

‘However, we are presented regularly with more tools to combat the threats as they arise.

‘Leveraging advanced technologies, fostering global collaboration, and prioritising cybersecurity education and awareness can mitigate risks and ensure a secure digital future.

‘What is very clear is that it is increasingly important to stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of AI and cybersecurity,’ he said.

Mrs Funmi Ek
undayo, President, ICSAN, said the forum serve as an avenue to expose participants to modern day practical solutions to problems on company secretarial practices, registrars’ functions and related issues.

Ekundayo said the event’s theme underscored the institute’s predisposition with engagement of current issues that expand the frontiers of knowledge through strategic brainstorming and intellectual endeavors.

She noted that it was chosen because of its relevance not only to current corporate secretarial practices, but governance practices, especially with the right focus set on capital market operations.

‘The depth, scope and utilitarian values of AI to our modern life is so engrossing and multidimensional that it will be an understatement to say we have entered the Age of Artificial Intelligence.

‘According to a study by Statista, the global AI market is set to grow up to 54 per cent every single year, the magnitude of that projected growth and the concomitant impact in our everyday life can best be imag
ined.

‘As a result, some pessimists have even cautioned that its wide applicability in all fields should be strictly monitored in order to forestall the possibility of this phenomenon surpassing human intelligence, and taking over the world from mankind.

‘As remote as that postulation may be, it only goes to underscore the truism of limitless possibilities that Artificial Intelligence offers,’ she said.

Ekundayo noted that while everything in life has both advantages and disadvantages, it had become important to fashion out ways to harness the benefits it offered while whittling down any harm it may bring.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society (AIS), an Islamic NGO has called for unity and religious harmony as a catalyst for engendering peace and development of the nation.

The organisation made call on Thursday in Abuja at special interfaith Iftar programme (TIIP) which had christian clerics breaking fast with their Muslim counterparts to promote peace and unity.

Sheikh Fuad Adeyemi, national Chief Imam, Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the programme was organised to promote peace, unity and religious tolerance among all Nigerians.

‘The essence of this programme is to maintain peace and tranquility and also security purposes.

‘When you say peace, it has to be holistic, if one person is not in peace then everybody is not in peace, that is why we are doing this with our Christian brothers to demonstrate that we are one,’ he said.

Earlier, Rev. Fr. Candice Enyiaka, International Programme Development Specialist, Global Peace Foundation say the initiative was capable of add
ressing religious intolerance in Nigeria.

He commended the Society for the initiative while calling on other faith organisations to emulate such to promote peace and unity in the country.

‘This is a commendable gesture by Al-Habibiyyah by bringing faith leaders from different traditions together to witness and be part of the Iftar and distribution of food to thousands of people from the streets not minding and asking questions.

‘I urge other faith based organisations to also emulate this to promote peace, unity and harmony in our country, ‘ he said.

NAN reports that the Christian clerics participated in the Iftar( breaking of fast) and distribution of food to thousands indigents Muslims and non-Muslims.

The programme was attended by Islamic and Christian clerics, representatives from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), faith based organisations and traditional rulers.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria