Day: June 9, 2024

The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has committed GHS500,000 to an educational endowment fund in the Ga State to cater for needs of children in the region.

He made the pledge at a durbar held in his honour at the Ga Mantse Palace on Sunday when he paid historic royal visit to King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, King of the Ga State.

The visit followed a similar courtesy paid by the Ga Mantse to the Manhyia Palace when the Asantehene marked his 25th anniversary on the throne.

The Asantes and the Gas have decades long relationship.

Otumfour Osei Tutu’s visit marks 78 years since Otumfuo Agyemang Prempeh II paid a visit to the Ga State on July 25, 1946.

The Asantehene, speaking through his linguist, urged traditional rulers in the Ga State to rally behind the overlord of the Ga community to ensure development.

He said chieftaincy was no longer about war and conquering territories, but a push for progress and development of the nation.

The visit, he noted, was to deepen the ‘love and friendship’ his predecessors h
ad maintained with the Ga people throughout the years and to explore other areas of collaboration for national development.

The Asantehene expressed gratitude for the massive show of love and solidarity extended to him by Tackie Teiko Tsuru II during his Silver Jubilee celebrations, and prayed for long reign of the Ga Mantse.

He said he looked forward to building stronger ties between the Ga State and the Asante Kingdom, and would continue to offer the needed support to King Teiko Tsuru II anytime he was called upon.

Mr Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, Greater Accra Regional Minister, said the Ga State was proud to host the Ashanti King, and would tap into his rich expertise.

He described the Asantehene’s reign as ‘an epitome of peace and symbol of quality leadership’, saying the Ashanti King had made chieftaincy ‘beautiful’.

King Tackie Teilko Tsuru II thanked the Asantehene for the financial support and promised to deepen the relationship.

‘We must promote the interest of the Ga State…We are one peopl
e. We can get there if we remain united,’ King Tackie Teilko Tsuru stated, and asked political parties to ensure the December polls was peaceful.

Events at the forecourt of the Ga Mantse was a blend of Ga and Asante culture, witnessed by dignitaries from diverse backgrounds, amidst the display of rich tradition and the firing of musketry.

Dignitaries present were Mr Henry Quartey, Minister of Interior; Mr Adjiri Blankson, a former Mayor of Accra; Nii Kwatei Titus Glover, Greater Accra Regional Minister, and Ms Elizabeth Sackey, Accra Mayor.

Others were Francis Asenso-Boakye, Mister of Roads and Highways; Sheik Armiyaw Shaibu, Representative of the National Chief Imam; Dr Lawrence Tetteh, President of Worldwide Miracle Outreach; Ms Darkoa Newman, MP Okaikwei South; Mr. Mike Oquaye Jnr, CEO Ghana Free Zones Authority; Mrs Jean Mensah, Electoral Commission Chair, and Members of the Clergy and the Diplomatic Corps.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Africa DataCentres, a business of Cassava Technologies group, has partnered Onix Data Centre to bolster data services in West Africa.

The collaboration aims to have a physical data centre presence in Africa, especially Ghana, to offer its customers extended geographical reach, expand expertise and have a unified customer experience across the globe.

Mr Yen Choi, Chief Executive Officer of Onix Data Centre, said Ghana needed a data centre for security sovereignty and rapid performance of processing data required services.

He said having a data server in the country would assist the government to achieve its digitization goals, transforming the economy from analogue to a digital based one.

He said the data centre would provide various IT services to clients both from the public and private sectors, including internet services, bank and insurance companies, schools, churches, government data and web hosting as well.

The CEO said the data base center in the country would provide data accessibility even if th
ere were disruptions of cables undersea, making it a resilient and reliable data system.

Dr Krishnan Ranganath, Regional Executive of Africa DataCentres, said it was crucial for Ghana to have its own data servers rather than relying solely on foreign data servers.

He said the collaboration had the technical capabilities to provide effective data services, making the Ghanaian market more valuable for investors.

He said more extensive and expanded data base centres, the stronger and powerful the data base would be.

Mr Ranganath said the database centre would ensure small and medium businesses leverage cloud base email to save storage and cost for efficient production, adding that there was a collocation for companies who wanted to manage their own data base.

The strategic collaboration saw both companies eager and enthusiastic to help build the digital agenda of Ghana to compete with other developed countries.

Africa Data Centres owns and operates Africa’s largest network of interconnected, carrier and cl
oud-neutral data centre facilities.

It aims at bringing international experts to the pan-African market, and provides a home for all medium and large enterprises across the world.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Passion for Needy, an NGO, has donated assorted food items to four needy institutions in Accra.

The items are bags of rice cartons of spaghetti, cartons of canned fish, vegetable oil, puree and toilet rolls.

The NGO also organised a buffet lunch for the beneficiaries to enable them enjoy themselves within the current economic challenges.

The institutions are Street Academy, Accra Rehabilitation Centre (ARC), Nungua Orphanage and the Ghana Society for the Socially Disadvantaged.

The donation is an annual event to acknowledge the contribution of the late Prophet T.B.Joshua, the founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations on his birthday, June 12.

Mrs Janet Torgbor El-Aschkar, Chairperson, Passion for Needy, said the gesture was part of the organization’s corporate social responsibility to respond to the needs of less privileged in society.

She said the NGO since its inception in 2009 had provided support to various government institutions, including the ARC, La Boys and Girls Correctional Centre, the G
overnment Special Schools and the Osu Children’s Home.

‘We have also supported privately owned charitable institutions including the Teshie Children’s Home, Christ Faith Forster Home, YOA Foundation, Islamic Research Institute for their efforts  in addressing challenges in society,’ she said.

She said as government continued to put in measures to ameliorate the plight of needy people, the organisation thought it prudent to also contribute their little substance to achieve the desired goal.

Ms El-Aschkar was confident that the organisation’s ‘widows might’ could help make the difference in their lives, calling on other institutions to come on board to support needy institutions.

The representatives of the beneficiary institutions commended the organisation for the kind gesture and prayed for the success of the NGO in continuing to serve humanity.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mrs Charlotte Osei, a former Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, has been installed the Safohen of Cape Coast Nkum Asafo Number Four Asafo Company.

Mrs Osei, now known as Safohen Nana Ama Kesson, has undergone the various rituals to become the leader of that Company.

The Oguaa Traditional Area has seven Asafo Groups (local military) whose mandate is to protect the town from both internal and external attacks.

They are Bentsir No.1, Anaafo No.2, Ntsin No.3, Nkum No.4, Brofomba No.5, Akrampa Bo.6 and Amanful No.7.

The Groups display their prowess and energise the celebration of Oguaa Fetu Afahye, held in September, every year.

The festival is a significant annual event in Cape Coast, celebrated in the first week of September, attracting a large crowd of people from across the globe.

Prior to the Fetu Afahye, the paramount chief of Oguaa undergoes seclusion to seek guidance from deities. During this period, drumming, dancing, noise-making, and revelry are prohibited in the township and fishing in the
Fosu Lagoon is banned for a month.

A key ritual of the festival involves the paramount chief and traditional priests offering libations to the deity Nana Fosu and symbolically lifting the ban on lagoon fishing by casting his net into the waters three times.

The climax of the Fetu Afahye occurs on the first Saturday of September, featuring a lively procession through the community with dancing and festivities, concluding an ecumenical service.

Source: Ghana News Agency

AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, in collaboration with the Centre for National Culture (CNC), Tarkwa, has organised a symposium to discuss ways of preserving and protecting their cultural and natural heritage for future generations. 

The programme, sponsored by the Mine, was on the theme: ‘Preserving and Protecting the Cultural and Natural Heritage Assets of the People, the Role of Mining Companies’.

Addressing youth groups and students at the event, Mr Samuel Boakye Pobee,

the Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, in a speech read on his behalf, commended CNC and National Youth Authority for the initiative, stressing that the theme underscored the essence of their collective responsibility towards safeguarding those invaluable treasures. 

He said their cultural and natural heritage represented the very fabric of their identity and served as a testament to their rich history, traditions, and values. 

‘For Iduapriem Mine, we are committed to making a positive contribution towards an ensu
ring world, and therefore, we recognize the immense value of the cultural and natural heritage with our host communities,’ he said. 

He said: ‘We are cognizant that these assets are not only a source of pride and identity for the people, but also play a crucial role in fostering social cohesion, economic development, and environmental sustainability. We, therefore, bear a profound responsibility to ensure their preservation and protection for the benefit of current and future generations. 

‘The responsibility extends beyond mere compliance with regulatory requirements; it is a moral imperative that lies at the heart of our commitment to sustainable development and responsible mining practices.’

Mr Pobee said the Mine had developed management standards and procedure to guide its operations, including reclamation of disturbed lands, proper waste disposal and tailings management to prevent runoffs to streams and water bodies. 

In addition, they have a management standard on cultural heritage and sacred sites
, which provide key requirements to ensure that best practice was employed in the protection of cultural heritage and sacred sites in the course of their business. 

‘As a Mine, we affirm our unwavering commitment to working hand in hand with stakeholders to ensure that our activities contribute to the preservation and promotion of our cultural and natural heritage, leaving a legacy of sustainability and prosperity for generations unborn. 

‘By empowering our youth to become advocates and ambassadors for conservation and sustainability, we can ensure that our heritage remains vibrant, resilient and cherished for future generations,’ he added.

Professor Cecilia Addei, Dean, Faculty of Integrated Management Science from the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, noted that protecting and preserving cultural and natural heritage assets was crucial for maintaining a community’s history, identity, and traditions. 

She said Environmental Impact Assessment, compliance with regulations and standards, he
ritage surveys and inventories, adaptive management plans, collaboration with conservation organizations, community development and benefit sharing, legacy planning and rehabilitation among others were some of the measures mining companies could adopt to protect and preserve cultural and natural heritage assets of the people. 

According to Prof Addei, if mining companies adhered to all the points raised above and more, they would be able to mine responsibly and still maintain the cultural heritage. 

Mr Samuel Kwasi Asare, the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Director for CNC, on his part, explained that the programme was held to educate the youth on the importance of their cultural heritage. 

‘If you come to Wassa Fiase Traditional Area, we have a site where Sir Charles MacCarthy was killed, at Aboso Housing we have the first mining pit and also we have the Neung forest reserve, which have peculiar things associated with it, but we have not made good use of them. This is why CNC is calling on individuals, mining co
mpanies and other institutions that we all have a collective responsibility to ensure our cultural heritage is protected,’ Mr Asare said.

A panel discussion was held where representatives from AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, Gold Fields Ghana Limited, Tarkwa Mine and Ghana Manganese Company Limited, gave details on how they have actualized commitments in the mining industry to their operations. 

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the Western Regional Minister, has called on stakeholders in the land restoration space to collaborate with the Regional Coordinating Council to reclaim all degraded lands through tree planting in the Region.

He said Illegal mining popularly known as ‘galamsey’ and other human activities had contributed to the destruction of many areas, including forest reserves in the Region.

‘These large tracks of lands will require restoration and tree planting, so I, therefore, invite stakeholders in the land restoration space, including miners to assist the WRCC and its partners to restore all degraded lands in the Western Region,’ he added.

The Minister made the call when he led a tree planting exercise at Subri River Forest Reserve, in the Wassa East District of the Western Region, as part of the Green Ghana Day project.

The 2024 edition of the Green Ghana Day is under the theme: ‘Growing for a Greener Tomorrow.’

Mr Darko-Mensah was joined by heads of security services in the Region
, traditional and religious authorities, students and heads of departments, among others, to plant the tree seedlings.

He said the Green Ghana Day held massive significance in promoting environmental conservation and sustainability in Ghana, and served as a reminder of the urgent need to protect Ghana’s natural resources and combat the effects of deforestation and climate change.

He said: ‘By actively participating in Green Ghana Day, individuals and communities can contribute towards restoring and preserving the country’s forests, reducing carbon emissions, and creating a more sustainable future.’

Mr Darko-Mensah encouraged the citizenry to embrace the beauty and significance of trees and cultivate the habit of regular tree planting, while working together to build a greener and more resilient forest resources.

He asked the Forestry Commission to put in place efficient measures to protect and sustain the trees planted to help achieve the intended results.

Mr Emmanuel Boakye, the Wassa East District Chie
f Executive (DCE), noted that trees played a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance and combating climate change, hence the need for all to show commitment towards conserving forest reserves.

He pledged the Assembly’s resolve to put in place strategic mechanisms to protect the trees to help promote environmental sustainability in the area.

Nana Gyenin Kontanko II, Chief of Wassa Odumasi, commended the government for instituting the Green Ghana Day initiative, and said it was a step in the right direction of conserving the environment.

He said the traditional rulers in the District would join forces and devise strategies to protect the forests from illegal mining and lumbering activities to contribute towards restoring and preserving the country’s forest reserves.

In all, about 250,000 tree seedlings would be planted in the Western Region to commemorate the Green Ghana Day.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Police have refuted a claim by Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Chairman, National Democratic Congress (NDC), that the arrest of three persons found with a gun at the Electoral Commission’s Ofaakor office, was ‘an order from above.’

The three: Phyllis Naa Koryoo, Abdulai Aziz and Mustapha Mohammed have been cautioned and granted Police bail, a Ghana Police Service statement copied the Ghana News Agency said.

Phyllis was cautioned on transfer of firearms without authority as Aziz and Mustapha were cautioned on possession of gun without authority.

‘The attention of the Ghana Police Service has been drawn to a video in which Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia is heard claiming that the Accra Regional Police Commander, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the Inspector-General of Police had indicated to him that the arrest of some three persons for possession of firearms at Ofaakor in the Awutu Senya East Constituency was based on an order from above.’

It added that ‘We would like to ca
tegorically state that the claims are false and without any basis. None of the officers mentioned in the video has at any point in time made any such pronouncement.

We wish to emphasize that all three suspects were arrested when a Pump Action gun with four rounds of ammunition was found in their vehicle at the offices of the Electoral Commission at Ofaakor in the Awutu Senya East constituency of the Central region, the statement said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The pupils in the Ayawaso Central Municipality have been sensitised on the values of tree planting and the dangers of its absence and the destruction on the environment.

The sensitisation was held by the Ayawaso Central Municipal Assembly in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Ayawaso Central Education Directorate to observe this year’s Green Ghana Day.

The programme was with the principle of ‘Catch Them Young’ during which the pupils of Abavana Down Basic and Kotobabi Presby Primary were quizzed on some of the topics they learn about the environment in relation to the importance of trees in human society.

Mr Ishmael Nana Ogyefo, the Municipal Coordinating Director who took the pupils through the short quiz, advised them to lead the charge on making the environment safe for human habitation through tree planting and other sound environmental practices.

He commended the pupils for acquitting themselves well in the environmental quiz.

He informed them that the t
hreats of environmental degradation were due to the indiscriminate practices of human behaviour, some of which could be checked through tree planting.

Mr Ogyefo advised the students to speak against all human activities that threatened the environment such as cutting down of trees unduly without authorization from the appropriate quarters.

The Coordinating Director encouraged the children to read widely on climate change, adding that; ‘we should all play our part to mitigate the effect of the weather phenomenon.’

He admonished them to be good ambassadors of the vision to populate the environment with trees everywhere to promote the functions of trees, particularly its basic function of absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen in the atmosphere.

The children were also advised to educate their peers and family members to make the vision achievable.

Mr Suleman Dickson, the Municipal NADMO Officer disclosed that 800 trees were being planted this year within the municipality including cashew, lemon, oran
ge, avocado and queen of the night.

He said this year, extra measures have been put in place to closely monitor the trees to ensure they do well.

Mr Augustus Owusu Agyenfra, the Municipal Director of Education urged the pupils to take the issue of tree planting very seriously as they grow into adulthood.

He said the exercise presents a practical version of what they were taught in class so that they were able to gain practical knowledge of tree planting and its effect on the environment.

According to him, tree planting is crucial in every society as it prevents the incidence of rip- off building roofs anytime there was a windstorm.

Mr Agyenfra asked the pupils to let the event positively register in their minds as they grow to adulthood because of seeing high- profile public personalities involved in the exercise with them.

He thanked the President for the decision, adding that it should be sustained for generations unborn to reap the benefit.

Mr Tommy Thompson, the Assembly Member for Kotobabi Elector
al Area said there was the need for trees to create more shade within communities and that it would serve a greater

purpose when they were planted along streets to beautify the environment while providing cover from the blazing sun.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Resilient Ecosystem and Sustainable Transformation of Rural Economies (RESTORE) project has started planting about 40,000 trees in five communities within the Bibiani Anwhiaso Bekwai Municipality of the Western North Region.

The beneficiary communities are Pataboso, Debiso, Bremang, Ankra-Muano and Kumkumso.

The USAID funded RESTORE programme, being implemented by the Rainforest Alliance and Olam Food Ingredient (OFI), in partnership with multinational chocolate companies, farmer cooperatives and local partners, is aimed at Increasing tree cover and contribute to national and corporate emission reduction targets.

Mr Kelvin Nartey, Senior Associate at Rainforest Alliance, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) to kick start the tree planting exercise, said the project was timely since it would address some of the barriers hindering sustainable cocoa production, deforestation and low income among cocoa farmers within the coc
oa supply chain.

He stated that the strategic intervention also sought to address the primary threats of illegal and unsustainable cocoa farming, illegal mining and logging activities leading to a destruction of forest reserves.

‘The project seeks to address the limited livelihood opportunities and under representation of women and youth in West Africa’s cocoa economy,’ Mr Nartey added.

Mr Emmanuel Braima, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning at the Rainforest Alliance, asked Ghanaians to protect and preserve the country’s forest reserves and that Rainforest Alliance was committed and ready to support farmers willing to plant trees on their farms.

Mr Justice Koduah, Branch Coordinator, OFI, advised cocoa farmers to take farming as their businesses and always protect the environment to improve yield.

He asked farmers and opinion leaders in the beneficiary communities to actively accept the RESTORE project and the Green Ghana initiative by nurturing the trees planted, saying ‘Protecting forest reserves and
environment should be a shared responsibility.’

Source: Ghana News Agency