Day: May 20, 2024

In central China’s Zhengzhou city, visiting museums has become a new trend of urban lifestyle. On May 18, the International Museum Day, museums in Zhengzhou in the Henan Province unveiled new exhibitions such as Treasures of Cultural Heritages from Luxembourg, Xu Hongfei Sculpture World Tour · Zhengzhou and fashion art photography exhibition.

In a bid to attract young visitors, the museums in Zhengzhou created fresh products, ‘bronze-themed coffee’, for instance, and hosted interactive activities related to intangible cultural heritages, including murder mystery games and hands-on artifact restoration.

Zhengzhou, one of China’s eight ancient capitals that boasts a total of 112 museums is dubbed the ‘City of a Hundred Museums’. It accommodates Henan Museum, Zhengzhou Museum, Yellow River Museum and other comprehensive museums. Additionally, there are museums of history and culture and themed museums, such as Henan Natural History Museum.

Zhengzhou has been connecting historical heritages to the public. For
instance, the Zhengzhou Museum, with bronze culture as one highlight, has introduced themed coffee and ice cream with bronze-culture elements.

The Zhengzhou Shang Dynasty Ruins Museum offers an immersive and interactive theater experience titled ‘Memories of the Shang Dynasty’, where visitors can travel through different historical periods via interactive games. The Zhengzhou Dingcang Coin Museum demonstrates ancient coin minting techniques, allowing visitors to try crafting coins themselves.

As a major birthplace of Chinese civilization, Zhengzhou is home to the Peiligang Culture dating back 8,000 years and the Dahecun Culture spanning 6,000 years. Around 5,000 years ago, the legendary Yellow Emperor was born and established his capital here. About 3,600 years ago, the Shang Dynasty also chose this area as their capital. Today, remnants of ancient city walls, stretching seven kilometers, can still be found in the center of Zhengzhou.

Currently, Zhengzhou has two UNESCO World Heritage sites, 83 nationally
protected sites, 147 provincially protected sites, and nearly 10,000 immovable cultural relics, providing a robust foundation for its many museums and exhibitions.

The museums in Zhengzhou have not only enriched the cultural life of the locals, but also appealed to visitors at home and abroad. With innovative events and exhibitions of the city’s historical and cultural heritage, Zhengzhou has presented a vibrant, open, and inclusive urban culture to the world.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched an innovative programme to support the growth and sustainability of Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in Ghana.

The programme, titled: ‘MSMEs Nimdie Series’, aims at empowering entrepreneurs with the resources, skills, and knowledge needed to thrive in today’s competitive market. 

Named after the Akan word, NIMDIE, (to wit knowledge), it is to increase the knowledge of businesses in key areas such as branding, planning, marketing, financial management, and digital transformation, ensuring that they had the tools and expertise needed to be successful and resilient.

Mr Sukhrob Khoshmukhamedov, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Ghana, at the launch of the initiative, said the institution recognised the pivotal role that MSMEs played in driving economic growth, fostering innovation, and creating employment opportunities.

It was, therefore, important to provide integrated support and address knowledge gaps, to catalyze the growt
h and sustainability of MSMEs.

This is to guarantee their empowerment and contribution to Ghana’s overall economic development.

Mr Khoshmukhamedov said the MSMEs Nimdie Series fell under UNDP’s integrated MSMEs Support Programme, which promoted economic transformation and sustainable development.

Entrepreneurs would thus receive guidance on leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to enhance intra-African trade, stimulate economic growth, and foster regional integration.

Future discussions would delve into crucial topics such as financial management, market expansion, digital marketing, innovation, regulatory compliance, and access to government support programmes. 

The UNDP, by tackling those essential areas, was reaffirming its commitment to empowering Ghana’s entrepreneurs and fueling economic growth, Mr Khoshmukhamedov said.

The event brought together entrepreneurs and policymakers, who welcomed the initiative as a timely response to the needs of various MSMEs in Ghana.

They note
d that the programme would be a game-changer, especially in business training and accessing finance with the immense knowledge acquired to grow their businesses beyond boarders.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Daniel Appiah, a Motivational speaker, has expressed his determination to break the Guinness World Record for the longest speech marathon, aiming to inspire others to pursue their dreams.

In the event scheduled from June 25th to June 30th, 2024, at the World Trade Center Conference Room in Accra, Mr Appiah is seeking to speak for 100 hours to break the existing 90-hour record held by a Nepalese.

The theme for his record attempt emphasised ‘positivity and possibility.’

The current record holder is Dr Ananta Ram KC from Nepal, who spoke continuously for 90 hours some four years ago, and it is a continuous speech except for breaks, which also need to be strictly adhered to.

He said, in his case, he would be delivering more motivational and inspirational content to inspire the audience, which aligned with his core mission as the Chief Encouragement Officer of Dream Focus International.

‘I inspire and encourage people to live their dreams,’ he said.

The speaker aimed to impact one million students positiv
ely across Ghana and Africa by leveraging his Guinness World Record attempt to inspire, impact and ignite the dreams and aspirations of one million youth and students.

He said this endeavour was not just about achieving a personal milestone but inspiring others to pursue their dreams and realize their full potential.

He said he chose the conference room to ensure his audience were comfortable, relaxed, and ready to be inspired.

‘My attempt at the longest speech marathon is more than just a test of endurance. It is a symbol of the power of positivity and possibility,’ he said.

He said through the record-breaking feat, he aimed to spread a message of hope and encouragement to the public, especially to the youth and students across the country and the African region.

He expressed the belief that every individual had unique talents and skills waiting to be unleashed and by fostering a mindset of positivity and possibility, ‘we can empower individuals to dream big and pursue their aspirations with unwavering
determination.

The Speaker said with the right commitment, dedication, persistence, and hard work, every dream was within reach.

He said it was difficult to achieve the goal alone as the endeavour required more resources and logistics to reach out to the youth and students.

He called on corporate Ghana, philanthropists, foundations, private individuals, well-meaning Ghanaians locally and abroad, and friends to join him in supporting the noble agenda.

He said donations were solicited to raise one million cedis, with payment platforms and means to contribute to be shared including shortcodes for local networks, GoFundMe accounts, and bank accounts for Dream Focus would be provided.

‘Together, we can make a difference in the lives of one million students in the short to medium term, providing them with the tools and inspiration they need to chase their dreams and make them a reality,’ he added.

He expressed commitment to raising one million cedis to inspire and impact one million students positively.

‘Wit
h your support, we can ignite a wave of change that will transform lives and communities for the better,’ he said.

He called on stakeholders to come together to empower the current and next generation and unlock their potential.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Emmanuel Kwadwo Wiredu, the Atwima Nwabiagya Municipal Director, National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has admonished Ghanaians to appreciate the stability and economic progress under the Fourth Republic.

He said in spite of the myriad of challenges confronting the nation, Ghana remained a shining example in the Sub-region in terms of political stability and economic growth.

Speaking at separate engagements with various groups as part of the 2024 Constitution Week, Mr Wiredu underscored the need for Ghanaians to rise to their civic duty of defending the Constitution to help sustain Ghana’s young democracy.

The Constitution Week, which is annual programme by the NCCE to sensitise citizens on the 1992 Constitution and its relevance to national development, is being celebrated on the theme: ‘Together, We Can Build Ghana: So, Get Involved.’

The Municipal Director charged Ghanaians to actively take part in the electoral processes leading up to the 2024 general election.

‘We all have roles to play
as citizens in ensuring the 2024 general election become successful and we have to wake up to that responsibility by taking meaningful part in all the electoral processes starting from the ongoing voter registration, voter exhibition and voting peacefully on the election day,’ he said.

‘The Constitution bestows the sovereignty of Ghana on the citizens, and sovereignty is principally exercised at the polls where we go to decide who to lead us in the next four years and give that person and parliamentarians our power through voting.’

Mr Wiredu said voting was a democratic right and a civic responsibility at the same time and, therefore, encouraged all unregistered eligible persons of 18 years and above to register to be able to exercise their franchise on December 7.

Ghanaians must be abreast of the content of the Constitution to appreciate their responsibilities as citizens to propel the political and socio-economic development of the country, he added.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr Jemimah Etornam Kassah, a fisheries scientist, says unsustainable fishing practices and their resultant decline in the country’s fish stock have dire socio-economic implications for the Ghanaian society.

She said the fisheries sector of Ghana provided both direct and indirect employment to about 10 per cent of the country’s population, therefore, anything that affected the sector would have a rippling effect on the socio-economic lives of people in the value chain.

‘If we have a collapse of the fisheries sector, the people going to be affected are not just the fishermen, but every other player or actor along the value chain, from mechanics to outboard motor repairers to gear developers and boat builders.’

‘All these people are having their livelihoods threatened,’ she said during a Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) media forum on sustainable fishing practices.

Dr Kassah, a Lecturer at the Department of Biology Education, University of Education, Winneba, observed that due to low catches current
ly, families dependent on the fisheries sector were facing a lot of pressure, with some experiencing low-income levels while some women did not get fish to smoke.

‘What happens then in the coastal communities is that there are high levels of depression and people are hypertensive, in addition to other health issues due to increased stress,’ she said.

‘Even though a lot is being done to reduce the rate of child trafficking in Ghana, because of low catches, there have been reports of families in coastal communities having to make their children to serve as domestic servants with other families, which is truncating their schooling, among other things.’

The fisheries scientist said fish had become expensive and if medical officers were advising parents to, for example, add powdered sardinella to the diet of toddlers while the price of herrings had gone up, it would be difficult for low-income mothers to ensure their children got the adequate protein needs.

She added that the situation did not only affect the
fishing communities but also every actor in the value chain, hence the need for the nation to work towards preventing the depletion of the fish stock.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Organised Labour (Ghana) has asked the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to cancel the proposed sale of its stakes in six hotels.

The union made the call at a press briefing addressed by the Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Dr. Yaw Baah.

He called on the minister responsible for pensions to direct the Board of Trustees of SSNIT to cancel the process immediately.

He said the union representatives on the Board of Trustees of SSNIT informed the leadership of the union that they had collectively raised objections to the process.

‘SSNIT’s interests in six hotels should not be packaged and sold as if all the hotels were in the same financial situation. The original proposal for the sale of SSNIT’s interests in six hotels has now been reduced to four. We hold the view that this renders the whole process null and void.

The proposed payment terms varied from the original Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) based on the recommendation of the transaction advisor,’ he said.

Dr.
Baah also said the union had a challenge that state assets would be sold to a Minister of State.

The union was reacting to an allegation leveled against Trust that it was selling its stakes in six hotels to a company owned by the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Bryan Acheampong.

The Trust, in a press statement, indicated that Rock City Hotel had submitted the strongest technical and financial proposal amongst other companies that expressed interest.

However, Dr. Baah accused the trust of not conducting proper due diligence in its quest to sell its stakes to the Rock City Hotel.

‘From all indications, it appears the process is going on, and in fact, they are even speeding it, and we do not think it is right. We do not think the regulations that guide the sale of state assets were followed. We do not think that the necessary due diligence was conducted. We cannot imagine that state property will be sold to a minister of state,’ he said.

He advised the minister in charge of pensions to act proactively
to avert the sale; otherwise, the union would be forced to act.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Local Small and Medium Enterprises have been transformed into competitive businesses and farmers lives improved with the implementation of the ‘Grains for Growth ‘ Programme.

The Programme, an innovative partnership between the Mastercard Foundation and IDH, aims to transform Ghana’s Grains market.

It aims to develop inclusive, and economically viable grain supply chains that will offer employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, contribute to better incomes, and improve the livelihoods of farmers, especially women and youth.

Grain production in Northern Ghana is largely characterized by informal supply chains, where actors have limited access to affordable financing solutions, mechanized farming, and quality agro-inputs.

These constraints negatively impact the quality and volumes of grain production, and the ability of SMEs to attract and maintain premium-paying buyers, resulting in limited commercial investments.

Through a market-led approach, the programme will contribute to the development of the
grains sector – maize, rice, millet, fonio, and sorghum supply chains, support the inclusion of Smallholder Farmers (SHF), and create jobs, with a central focus on women and youth empowerment.

Overall, the programme has made some commendable strides, notwithstanding the global economic recession, and sociocultural challenges impacting the sector businesses, and made some significant contributions to the grains sector and the lives of smallholder farmers in northern Ghana.

The programme’s components and anticipated results include Diagnostic and Service Delivery Model (SDM) analyses, SME technical, operational, and managerial support, improved production and mechanization, digitalization for SHF engagement, business development, and access to affordable financing.

Mr Robert Asugure, the Country Director for IDH, said they believed that there was a congruent interest to create more impact on a scale and that was why they partnered with the Mastercard Foundation to develop the Programme.

He said they were ab
le to reach out to so many farmers and off-takers and the brands to be able to do this Programme and support industrial processing and food security.

Mr Razak Bongo, a beneficiary, said life was difficult for him before IDH came in to support because when he was unable to get money to buy farm inputs to apply to his farm to get more output

Mr Alhassan Nuhu, a Project Coordinator for DEGAS, said as an Agritech Company, they supported farmers with farm inputs.

He said IDH happened to be a partner of DEGAS through the Mastercard Foundation so through that DESAG was able to mobilize some support for its farmers and some training packages to improve upon the activity they were carrying on in their communities.

Mr Hikimatu Kadiri, the CEO of AgroMart Limited said after Senior High School, he developed an interest in farming and then he sought out land and fortunately, he was offered five acres of land.

He said it was almost at the end of the season that he had a tractor to plough his land and due to that it af
fected his yields.

He said he benefitted from the Mastercard Foundation Programme and was awarded a contract to supply 200 bags of NPK and then 200 bags of millet seeds which was a total of 23,000 dollars.

He said in the 2022/2023 crop season, he was again awarded a contract to provide mechanization service and supply inputs with a total amount of 47,000 dollars.

In the first year of the programme, 20,924 smallholder farmers from seven SMEs in the maize, rice, millet, and fonio commodity chains in Northern Ghana were supported by the Programme to cultivate grains on a combined total of 19,124 acres of farmland.

The programme’s contributions are critical support mechanisms given the current landscape where there’s a drastic increase in the cost of production due to high inflation, high cost of seeds and fertilizers, limited mechanization services, weather uncertainties from climate change, and depreciation of the local currency that deterred many farmers from producing grains in 2022.

Source: Ghana News
Agency