Day: May 24, 2024

Professor Rita Akosua Dickson, the Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has commended members of the District 418 Ghana of Lions International for their contributions towards the development of the country.

She said the impact made by the Association in areas such as disaster relief, health and well-being, environmental sustainability, youth and community development, over the years, could not be ignored.

Delivering the keynote address at the just ended three -day Convention of Lions of District 418- Ghana, Prof Dickson praised the Lions for making indelible impact in the lives of many and transforming the fortunes of the vulnerable in the society.

‘You have succeeded in making significant contributions to improving the lives of millions of people around the world. By your activities, you continue to emphasise what the real meaning of success in life is all about,’ she said.

The Convention was held on the theme: ‘Fostering Unity and Friendship for Sustainable
Membership Growth’.

The Vice Chancellor noted that in uniting individuals from different backgrounds to serve their communities, the Lions Clubs had grown into one of the largest and most impactful service organisations across the globe today.

Nana Adu Mensah Asare, Amakomhene, commended the Lions for the various roles they continued to play in putting smiles on the faces of the less privileged in society.

Giving a report on the Association, Miss Kate Baaba Hudson, the District Governor of the Club, said the District currently had a membership of 1,300, adding that it hoped to add about 70 more members before the end of its service year on June 30, 2024.

She announced that the Club presented relief items to victims of the recent Akosombo Dam spillage disaster to alleviate their plights.

During the period under review, she said the District, which comprised 46 Clubs spread throughout the country, formed one additional Club known as the Hohoe Unique Lions Club and presented it with its Charter to officiall
y welcome the Club into the Lions Family.

Miss Hudson, who is a former Editor of the Business Desk of the Daily Graphic and a former acting Editor of The Mirror, noted that there had been increased interest in leadership training programmes by members.

She disclosed that its Marketing Department made significant strides in enhancing brand awareness and ensuring brand consistency.

The District Governor also announced that the District was honoured during the 8th Exclusive Men of the Year (EMY) Africa Awards ceremony held in October last year as the Best Humanitarian Group of the Year.

Dr Helena Asamoah-Hassan, who was the first Vice District Governor, was installed as the District Governor Elect for the next Lions Service Year.

Dr Asamoah – Hassan expressed her gratitude to her predecessors for working hard to nurture the young district.

She said there was the need to hit the ground running to be able to contribute to the building of the District.

Mr Prince Obeng Dwamena, a Chartered Accountant and Tax
Consultant, who is currently the Second Vice District Governor was endorsed as the First Vice District Governor.

Also, Mr Ebo Prah Manson, a Professional Construction Cost Advisor, Quantity Surveyor and Project Manager, was elected Second Vice District Governor.

A major highlight of the Convention was the parade of members from the KNUST main taxi rank to the Business School and a flag raising ceremony.

Source: Ghana News Agency

AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine has distributed 60,000 high yielding oil palm seedlings to farmers in six districts in the Adansi enclave.

It is part of the Climate Resilience Oil Palm Plantation (CROPP) project, which is being undertaken by AngloGold, in partnership with Solidaridad West Africa.

It aims at supporting farmers in the Adansi enclave through oil palm production to improve their livelihoods, while contributing to the deforestation mitigation targets through agro forestry.

The beneficiaries are farmers from the Obuasi Municipal, Obuasi East, Adansi North and South, Adansi Asokwa and Adansi Akrofoum districts.

The company in 2023 distributed 30,000 seedlings under the project to farmers in the districts.

Mr Daniel Arthur-Bentum, Economic Development Superintendent of AngloGold Obuasi Mine, speaking at the presentation ceremony, said most arable lands in the Adansi enclave had been significantly depleted due to illegal mining activities.

This had caused rising temperatures, increased inconsiste
ncies in rainfall patterns, reduced suitable areas for farming, and reduced farm yield.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Zabzugu District Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has held an Inter-party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) meeting for stakeholders ahead of the 2024 general election.

The event, which took place at Zabzugu in the Northern Region, was a step in fostering cooperation among political parties with the aim of promoting peace before, during and after the elections.

It brought together members of various political parties, traditional and religious leaders, youth groups, security services and persons with disabilities.

Also, in attendance were Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed, Northern Regional Director of NCCE, and his Deputy, Mr Christian Abogye, European Union (EU) Project Accountant at the NCCE Headquarters, Mr Abdul-Rahman Ibrahim, Zabzugu District Coordinator Director, and a representative of the Electoral Commission.

Participants were taken through electoral processes and a presentation on preventing and containing violent extremism as the country prepared for the elections.

Mr Adam
Abubakari, Zabzugu District Director of NCCE, speaking during the event, urged the residents to embrace peace, saying a peaceful election depended on all stakeholders.

He said the district, due to its geographical location and hospitality, appeared vulnerable to extremism, adding the membership of the IPDC was carefully and strategically composed to achieve a wider spread of impact within the district.

He urged the participants to be security conscious and educated them on ways to monitor and report security threats and detect youth radicalisation and conflict resolution.

Mr Iddisah Abukari, Zabzugu District Director, Electoral Commission, who sensitised participants on the election processes, assured the participants of the serene process, indicating that political parties had so far been cooperative.

Deputy Superintendent of Immigration, Mr Kennedy Tengzah, Zabzugu District Commander, Ghana Immigration Service, appealed to chiefs, landlords, and all residents to grant them the necessary space for uninte
rrupted investigations whenever security issues arose.

He admonished participants to be vigilant at all times, embrace peace and consider women and children in their dealings.

Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed, Northern Regional Director of NCCE also emphasised the need for all to embrace peace because ‘We are all one people. ‘

Representatives of political parties pledged to ensure peace ahead of the elections and beyond.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has held a stakeholder inception meeting on a peacebuilding project aimed at promoting social cohesion in Bongo in the Upper East Region.

Dubbed ‘Peace Building Fund (PBF)’, the two-year project is in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with coordination support from the United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator Office.

It is aimed at preventing and addressing the root causes of localized and spillover conflicts and vulnerabilities to violent extremism in Northern Ghana, particularly in the Upper East, Upper West, and North East Regions.

The project also focused on empowering local governance institutions, actors, and customary governance structures to ensure inclusive governance and enable functional spaces for dialogue and mediation for conflict prevention and peacebuilding.

The project is benefitting three communities in the Bongo District namely Feo, Soe, and Namoo.

Madam Selina Owusu, the National Gender Analyst, UNFPA, speak
ing at the inception meeting on the theme ‘Enhancing social cohesion and social contract through the empowerment of women and youth in the three Regions of the North’, believed the project would contribute significantly to strengthen social cohesion in beneficiary communities and beyond.

Madam Owusu noted that because of tensions over unresolved chieftaincy and land disputes, coupled with the country’s porous borders exposing border communities to the Sahel crisis the people, especially the youth, were vulnerable to violent extremists.

That, she highlighted, made it crucial for the people to be sensitized to build a social bond among them to guard themselves against radicalization.

Madam Owusu who doubled as the Focal Person for the project underscored that ensuring peaceful coexistence and harmonious environment among the varied people in the communities would advance development and help alleviate the vulnerable groups, including women and children from poverty and suffering.

‘The development of every c
ommunity is hinged on peace, and that is what this project is seeking to achieve: to foster inclusive dialogue and promote peace for sustainable development by enhancing the agency of the youth and women to contribute to local governance,’ she added.

She, therefore called on relevant stakeholders such as the Regional Coordinating Council, traditional authorities, youth group leaders, and community members, to play critical roles to strengthen the prevailing peace and prevent spillover of activities of violent extremists.

Alhaji Ibrahim Habila, District Coordinating Director, Bongo District Assembly, reiterated that, as a key stakeholder, the Assembly would ensure the implementation of the project to enhance peace for development.

Naba Azaare Anye-Naba, Chief of Feo community, thanked the UNFPA and its partners for working to foster peace in the communities, adding that ‘a peaceful environment would help attract investors to enhance development.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, the Minister of Finance, says the government is expecting $2.32 billion inflows from its development partners to stabilize the cedi.

‘We therefore expect total disbursements of at least $2.32 billion before the end of the year to add to the significant foreign exchange reserves already built up by the BoG,’ he said.

He said inflows from the World Bank, the third tranche of the International Monetary Fund Extended Credit Facility, cocoa syndicated proceeds will aid government efforts to stabilise cedis.

‘The disbursements of the 3rd Tranche under the 2nd Review of the IMF-supported PC-PEG after the IMF Executive Board approval in June 2024; disbursement from other ongoing projects, including the $150 million World Bank Loan following the parliamentary approval last week Friday,’ he said.

‘The expected disbursement of $300 million under the World Bank DPO2, possibly in the 3rd quarter of 2024, 2024, Disbursements of $200 million to Ghana EXIM Bank and GCB by EBID later in the year.
The expected 2024/25 Cocoa syndication proceeds in the 4th quarter of 2024 will all support the strengthening of the cedi as they boost supply of Forex to the markets,’ he said.

Dr. Amin also enumerated a number of measures the government had undertaken in conjunction with the central bank to complement the expected inflows from the development partners to stabilize the cedi.

The measures, according to the minister, included fast tracking of the fiscal consolidation process through rationalizing spending and enhancing revenue mobilization, intensification of the gold-for-oil programme, and appropriate FX interventions by the BoG.

Dr. Amin also said the government would intensify the gold for reserve programme by the central bank to shore up Ghana’s reserve.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mrs Imane Ouaadil, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Ghana, has urged African countries to recommit themselves to achieving the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA).

The objective of the Strategy is to develop programmes to support national, regional, and continental higher education activities with keen focus on quality assurance; harmonisation and mutual recognition of qualifications; excellence in research, innovation, and entrepreneurship; teaching and learning; and institutional leadership.

Mrs Ouaadil, who is also the Dean of the African Group of Ambassadors and High Commissioners accredited to Ghana, made the appeal on Friday in her address at a flagraising ceremony to mark the 61st Anniversary Celebration of the African Union (AU) in Accra.

The event, which was on the theme ‘Educate an African fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality, and Relevant Learning in Africa’, saw Mrs Ouaadil and Mr Kwaku Ampra
tum-Sarpong, a Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in-charge of Political and Economics, planting tree seedlings at the Forecourt of the State House in Accra.

It was attended by Members of the diplomatic community in Ghana, students from Accra High School, Accra Girls Senior High School, and St Thomas Aquinas Senior High School.

Mrs Ouaadil said commitment to education had marked the continent’s progress since the 1960s era of independence; adding that ‘now more than ever, this resolve must transform Africa into the world’s powerhouse for the 21st century’.

‘The AU Year of Education is a unique opportunity to recommit member states to achieving the Continental Strategy for Education in Africa, Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, as well as Agenda 2063,’ she stated.

‘If knowledge is power, then education is the key to unlocking that power. Education is now front and centre of the development debate – and with good reason.

‘Today, 40 per cent of all Africans are un
der 15. Another 100 million children will be born here by 2050.

‘Yet, of the 1 million Africans entering the labour market every month, fewer than 25 per cent find a job in the formal economy.’

The Ambassador said this demographic dividend should offer a tremendous opportunity for Africa to build a valuable base of human capital that would serve as the engine for the economic transformation of our continent.

She reiterated that the time had never been more auspicious to focus on education, particularly in science, technology, and mathematics.

Mrs Ouaadil said the burgeoning youth population of Africa would drive the growth and prosperity of the continent to the next generation, but only if they equipped them to do so.

She expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Government of Ghana for celebrating the unique day (AU Day) with the African Ambassadors and High Commissioners accredited to Ghana.

‘As the Principal Representatives of our respective countries, it is part of our cardinal responsibilities to
promote political, economic, and socio-cultural partnerships that will lead to the realisation of mutual benefits.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ms Saadia Baba Sampana, the Bolgatanga East District Director of National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has warned that any setback to Ghana’s democracy during Ghana’s 2024 Elections will be a dent on its gains and the Sub region.

She said Violent Extremism continued to be serious threat for preservation of Democratic Governance, which is essential for peace, prosperity and safety in Ghana and the Sub-region at large.

‘Terrorism and other forms of violence including violent extremism have potential to derail the Democratic gains Ghana has made as the country prepares for the 2024 elections in less than one year,’ she stated.

The Director made this statement during a peace building consultative meetings with the Inter Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC), to take steps to avert any violent extremism and to promote peaceful co- existence and national cohesion.

The meeting which is part of Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE) was also for the Political Party stakeholders to take steps to pr
event the use of electioneering activities and platforms to perpetuate violence either by forces both internal and external.

She thanked the European Union for sponsoring the Commission to carry out the PCVE in Northern Ghana.

District Superintendent of Police, Charles Simpa who took stakeholders through the theme for the engagement meeting stated that violent extremism was real and hampered any sustainable development and indicated that many pockets of conflicts in the country including electoral violence affected its economic growth.

He said Formed Police Units (FPU) personnel have been trained, equipped, and stationed in all the districts and as match up to the general elections would work with its counterparts in the country to keep the peace and to curb any violence and extremism.

He said the youth, children and women were the highest at risk of violence during conflicts and urged stakeholders to advise the youth to desist from any acts that would breach the peace in the area.

‘Don’t let anyone inst
igate the youth to breech the laws,’ and urged them to say something when they see something.

As part of community surveillance Mr Simpa called on communities to liaise with their Assembly members to assist the police to keep the communities safe. He also gave emergency lines as 191, 18555 ,112.

Mr Albert Agana, the District Chief Executive said the fragile peace enjoyed in the district called for ways to maintain the peace as the country drew close to the 2024 elections.

The DCE, recent happening in the Bolgatanga Municipality indicated the Bawku Conflict was extending its wings and the pockets of violence in the area called for the IPDC to discuss channels to maintain peace in the district irrespective of party affiliation.

He said Government was working hard to ensure a peaceful election and therefore has sought donor support to implement policies that promotes peace and one of them was the implementation of many projects that promoted infrastructure development, human development, and social cohesion
which the Bolga East district is also benefitting especially the SOCO project.

Some representatives of the parties on voter transfers and warned that if people will transfer their votes from one electoral area to the other only to go and foment trouble and indicated that it was better such people remained where they were since such actions will not be taken lightly.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Information Services Department (ISD) in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region has appealed for logistics to enhance their operations.

They said the call would champion their efforts of giving up-to-date information on government policies, programmes, events, and other important activities to the public.

Mr Freedom Vitashie, the Keta and Anloga ISD Director, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said the lack logistics was affecting their activities.

‘We are the Department that is responsible for delivering information to the public on all policies and providing press coverage for the Municipality,’ he stated.

Mr Vitashie further disclosed that lack of vehicles, inadequate personnel, insufficient public address systems, and others were among the things required for easy dissemination of relevant messages.

‘Our Information Van broke down on the field about one and half years ago. We informed the appropriate authorities, but we are yet to receive any feedback.’

He said the Department had no
option but to resort to disseminating information at funerals, celebrations, and community information centers due to limited resources.

Mr Vitashie is, therefore, appealing to philanthropists, corporate organisations, individuals, and the government to address the challenges for the Department to thrive.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Accra Human Rights Court One on Friday dismissed the application by Food Sovereignty Ghana (FSG), a civil society organisation, challenging the commercialisation of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in Ghana.

The Court’s decision was based on the fact that the plaintiff’s evidence failed to convince the Court presided over by Justice Barbara Tetteh Charwey.

The Court ordered the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) that all GMOs on the market should be labelled for the public to make informed choices.

The National Biosafety Authority was also asked to sensitise and educate the citizens on GMOs.

The FSG, together with Vegetarians’ Association and the Convention People’s Party in an application at the Court, sought whether required processes and laws had been adhered to in the ongoing plans to commercialise GMOs.

Plaintiffs also sought a declaration whether the defendants- NBA, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Attorney General’s Office and Ghana National Farmers and Fishers’ Association, had proper
and detailed documentation in relation to the area of risk assessment and management in relation to the intention to release and commercialize cowpea and rice in the Ghanaian ecosystem and if they met the accepted legal requirements in the handling of GMOs activities.

Plaintiffs again applied for interlocutory injunction to restrain defendants, their agents, servants and assigns from approving, releasing and commercialising GMO rice and cowpea until final determination of the case by the Court.

Mr Eric Okoree Amaning, Chief Executive Officer of NBA, after the judgement, told the media that there were no GMOs on the market as claimed during the nine year trial.

He said it was rather on a point of research.

He however said there were no data on GMOs from Nigeria on the Ghanaian market, thus, his outfit could not publish any data on it as ordered by the Court.

Mr Wayo Ghanamanti, counsel for plaintiff, also on the sidelines of Court’s proceedings, though not happy with the decision said, it was a victory fo
r Ghana.

He pledged that National Biosafety Authority would be monitored to ensure it followed the Court’s direction.

He said consuming GMOs was not the way to go as Ghana had fertile lands for the conventional food products.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mrs Gladys Seshime-Adotevi, Leader of ‘Norvienyo Association (Norvass),’ a female-dominated Akatsi-based social group, has reiterated their desire to assist the less privileged in the society.

She indicated that their outfit would not relent on giving to children with special needs and orphans.

Mrs Seshime-Adotevi, who is also the Headmistress of Akatsi RC Basic School in the Akatsi South Municipality of the Volta Region, gave this assurance during the group’s donation to orphans at ‘In My Father’s House’ Children’s village at Abor.

She explained that their continuous support in those areas would help in the development of such children for a better future.

Mr Amenyo Frank, the Deputy Director of the Orphanage, on behalf of Management and staff, was grateful for the enormous contributions and support from ‘Norvass’ over the years.

He said the gesture would go a long way to ensure all children received equal attention and care.

Items such as toiletries, rice, cooking oil, soft drinks, and others were pr
esented to the school.

An undisclosed amount of cash was also handed over to the authorities.

Source: Ghana News Agency