Day: June 9, 2024

The Anti-Human Smuggling and Trafficking in Person (AHSTIP) Unit of the Aflao Sector Command of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has urged the public to join efforts in combating human trafficking.

The Unit, in partnership with the International Centre for Safe Migration, marked the African Union International Border Day on Friday by shedding light on the escalating issue of human trafficking and the associated illicit activities occurring across African borders, calling for a united commitment to combating these transgressions.

Assistant Superintendent of Immigration (ASI), Justice Kudzo Normeshie, the Officer-in-Charge of the AHSTIP Unit, GIS at the Aflao Sector Command, emphasised the importance of raising public awareness in the fight against human trafficking, citing the challenging conditions prevalent in many African countries that render individuals more vulnerable to such exploitation.

‘The current trends in migration across our ECOWAS corridors, triggered by climate change, harsh economic cond
itions for the youth, political instabilities, threats of terrorism among others, have forced the youth to be on the move for survival.

Desperate as they are, most of them, especially children, girls and women end up falling into the hands of Traffickers and Smugglers who promise them lucrative jobs but end up exploiting them sexually, through forced prostitution.’

He said boys and men were equally being exploited through forced labour, forced criminal activities such as cybercrimes, perpetuating fraud activities as well as organ harvest in worse cases while ‘children, are mostly pushed into forced begging which we can witness in the big cities within the sub-region.’

ASI Normeshie indicated the Unit’s success in the fight against human trafficking and noted that they had over the years, ‘rescued several victims of trafficking and smuggling, reunited them with their families and referred perpetrators to the Headquarters for prosecutions.’

He assured that with the recent inauguration of the Aflao Transitio
nal Shelter, made possible through the support of international partners, the AHSTIP Unit of the GIS Aflao Sector Command was better positioned to protect these vulnerable migrants, provide them with psychological counselling among other needs and, to effectively prosecute perpetrators.

‘We’re therefore calling on the general public to support our team by donating something no matter how small to the shelter to help us feed victims and cater for their other needs. Because they normally come to very deplorable states.

And we need these supports to fix their lives, give them a treat for them to know that the world still loves them and that they can restart their lives,’ he said to the Ghana News Agency.

The day which saw the Unit collaborate with the Togolese counterparts to facilitate the sharing of flyers and educational materials on human trafficking at the Togo side of the border, had teams board TSR and ABC buses, bound for Niger and Nigeria respectively to educate travelers onboard, on the need to be v
igilant and not fall preys to human traffickers.

The African Union Border Day is celebrated annually on June 7 to promote peace, security, and stability across the continent with emphasis on the importance of harmonious borders for Africa’s development.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Sissala East Municipal Assembly has supported some artisans with equipment to boost their businesses.

The beneficiary groups included the Tumu Masons’ Association, Stadium Residential Soap Making Women group, Pina Bead-Making Group, Bugubelle Soya Beans Processing Group, and Satellite Installers Group.

Distributing a range of essential equipment to enhance their capacity and efficiency, Mr Fuseini Yakubu Batong, the Sisalla East Municipal Chief Executive joined by Mr Amidu Issahaku Chinnia, MP for the area, underscored the need to extend government support to persons in the artisanal space.

‘All of you here were trained before and were gathered and given this training and that is why we are giving you the equipment,’ he said.

Mr Batong said even though the equipment was limited, what was given would help enhance their work.

‘Also, at places where these equipment are scarce, you can consider renting it to other people for them to also use and through that you could earn some revenue to sustain your gr
oups and associations,’ he advised.

The MCE reiterated the government’s commitment to empowering artisans to reduce unemployment.

He advised the beneficiaries to make good use of the equipment, citing examples of individuals who have significantly improved their livelihoods through similar support schemes.

The masons received 30 wheelbarrows, 60 head pans, and 60 shovels while the soya beans processing group received 10 bags of soya beans, 30 storage containers, 30 transparent containers, 30 ladles, 30 sieves, 30 measuring cups, and 30 metal pots.

The rest included the beads-making group who received 30 pearl setting machines, 30 varied packs of beads, and 30 pieces of thread.

The soap making group received 10 hydrometers, gallons of palm oil, 5 palm kernels, 5 cutting boards and tables, 5 paraffin oil, 10 packages of vitamin E and chemicals, 10 grease lines and hardeners, 10 mini bags of soda ash, 10 mini bags of salt, 10 sets of perfumes, 10 packs of oil colors, 10 containers and pet bottles, 10 wooden
spoons, 10 measuring cups, and silicone molds among other items.

Mr Basugu Baba, the patron of the masons’ association, expressed gratitude on behalf of all the groups.

‘I wish to on behalf of the associations, express our sincere gratitude to the MCE and the Member of Parliament for the Sissala East Constituency Mr Issahaku Amidu Chinnia, for this presentation, which will help us in our fields of work.

If you wish to empower and help someone, you don’t give them food, but you teach them how to fend for themselves’, he said.

The initiative is part of the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion project, funded by the World Bank

Source: Ghana News Agency

The General Manager of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in charge of the Volta/Oti Regions, together with a section of management and staff of the Company, has paid a courtesy call on the Oti Regional Minister at his office in Dambai.

Ms Christiana Jatoe-Kaleo, the General Manager, said the visit was to familiarize with the new Regional Minister, inspect their establishments and meet with staff as well as build strategic partnerships.

She said management and staff of ECG were committed to ensuring excellent customer service delivery to their clients and would work assiduously to achieve their corporate goals.

Deputy Superintendent of Prison (DSP), Mr Daniel Machator (Rtd), the Oti Regional Minister welcomed the team from ECG and commended them for their warm gesture.

He said citizens had over the years enjoyed a symbiotic relationship with the nation’s power providers and expected continuous collaboration.

Mr Machator assured residents that the Regional Coordinating Council (ORCC) was working with
the ECG over the current light bills, adding their intervention would remedy the situation.

‘ORCC would demonstrate its clearest indication to give up their support in the hope of bringing efficiency in ECG’s operations within the region,’ he told the Ghana News Agency (GNA).

The General Manager was accompanied by management members from the Regional Head office, including Mr Godfred Awuku, Regional Engineer, Mr Solomon Adjiku, Regional Commercial manager, Mrs Veronica Larbi Mensah, Regional Materials and Transport Manager and Madam Irene Mary Odame, District Manager at Dambai.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Nana Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, Akwamuhene has targeted to plant one million trees every year to restore and reduce air pollution for health and climate benefits along the riverbanks at Asuogyaman District.

The exercise, dubbed: ‘The OKA Million Tree Campaign’ which was launched as part of activities to mark the Green Ghana Project, was an initiative to change behaviours about illegal tree felling, reduce other pollution sources and enhance greenspaces in the district.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency after the launch, he called on the chiefs and people of the area to encourage ownership of the tree planting exercise and to enhance participation of all including school children in the district.

He said his initiative would also be focused on schools and other non-governmental organisations to enhance promotion of greenspaces development, planting of indigenous trees in the district.

He said: ‘We should be mindful of our actions such as indiscriminate tree felling and the negative effects it had on
the environment.’

Nana Kwafo Akoto said research showed that drought and rising temperatures were threatening the lives of over three billion people, hence over two billion hectares of the world’s land were degraded endangering the ecosystems of several plants and wildlife.

‘United Nations is targeting to resort over 350 million hectares of degraded landscapes globally by 2030 to restore blighted landscapes and the environment,’ he emphasised.

He said to create resilience and combat land degradation the UN had identified seven sustainable ways to restore the environment, such as making agriculture sustainable and saving the soil.

Other sustainable ways were to protect the pollinators, restore freshwater ecosystems, renew coastal marine areas, bring nature back to cities and generate financing for restoration.

Nana Kwafo Akoto acknowledged the support of the Volta River Authority, PRAXIS Africa, an NGO, Asuogyaman Company Limited, Ohemea Afrakoma II Foundation, Forestry Commission for their immense contri
bution for the OKA Tree Planting exercise.

Mr Ulysses Ocran-Hammond, an Environment Manager of the Volta River Authority gave an assurance that his outfit would supply seedlings to the chiefs to ensure the sustainability of the OKA Tree Planting initiative.

He said VRA had planted over 6,000 trees along the banks as it takes afforestation seriously to protect the environment.

Mr Prosper Agbenyo, Coordinating Director of the Asuogyaman District Assembly, who spoke on behalf of the District Chief Executive, Miss Opokuwa Akonor called on all to embrace the initiative launched by the chief.

He said the assembly would ensure that all schools in the district are to collaborate to plant trees to protect the environment.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Reverend Dr Lawrence Tetteh, President of the Worldwide Miracle Outreach, has said the 2024 general elections presented an opportunity for the country to redefine its narrative and strongly emerge again as a beacon of democracy in Africa.

He said major actors, including Electoral Commission (EC), citizens, political parties, religious and traditional leadership and institutions mandated to support, had the collective responsibility to make this a reality.

‘Ghana stands at the crossroad of another democratic journey, which should transcend the shadows of the past and usher in a new era of peaceful election and progress,’ he added.

Dr Tetteh, a renowned Evangelist, Economist and philanthropist, was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview after a three-day retreat in Ho.

He said transparent electoral processes were vital to instill trust in the citizens and stressed that strengthening electoral institutions, ensuring independence of the EC and implementing secure and transparent voting processes we
re paramount.

He called on Christians and other faith-based organisations to become Ambassadors of peace in the upcoming general elections in December and religiously commit their pulpits and others towards peace, tranquility and co-existence.

He prayed for the peace in the Volta region and the rest of Ghana, believing the elections would be free and fair to all parties and leave the country as a whole in the aftermath.

Dr Tetteh admonished politicians to desist from enticing voters with money and allow the electorates to decide who should lead them without monetary influence.

He urged the Electoral Commission to amplify its education on the electoral process to the citizenry and added ‘the EC should always go ahead of politicians.’

He urged the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to design tailored programmes to engage the youth in constructive activities, steering them away from violence and influence peddling to mitigate electoral violence.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The National Commission of Civic Education (NCCE), Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Office, has participated in the 2024 national ‘Green Ghana’ tree planting exercise across some communities in Kpone.

Mr Seth Sotie Kpone-Katamanso, the Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Director of the NCCE, speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), stated that institutions such as the Commission should take charge of the tree planting exercise.

Mr Sotie explained that it was the responsibility of the Commission to ensure that residents understood the rationale behind the national tree planting exercise, adding that trees ensure a healthy ecosystem as well as the beautification of the environment.

According to him, the NCCE was ready to take the campaign to the length and the breadth of the municipality to ensure enough trees were planted within the various communities.

Mr Sotie explained that the tree planting exercise by his outfit was to raise awareness about the importance of environmental sustainability and to ensure that everyone wa
s brought on board.

He called on the chiefs and the people within the Kpone traditional area, including students, to also help in preserving lands and the environment, respectively, for future generations, saying the surest way was to plant enough trees to replace those that have been destroyed within the communities.

The NCCE planted different species of trees at the Kpone-Community Day School and other parts of the communities in Kpone, adding that the exercise would be replicated in other institutions across the municipality.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Jonathan Baah, a former Chief Executive Officer for the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCO), says diversifying Ghana’s energy sources is one of the panaceas to the country’s energy sector debts. 

He said diversifying Ghana’s energy mix to include more renewable energy sources than thermal sources could reduce the cost of power generation, which is one of the major drivers of energy sector debt. 

‘Diversifying our energy mix to include more renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydro can reduce reliance on expensive thermal power and enhance energy security. Investments in renewable energy should be accompanied by incentives and policies that can encourage private sector participation in generating electricity for the country,’ he said. 

Thermal generation accounts for the largest share of Ghana’s power generation, representing 66 percent of Ghana’s thermal power generation, which is fuelled largely by natural gas but occasionally with light crude oil and diesel and 33 percent of hydro.

The former CEO
of GRIDCO said this during a training session organised by Energy News Africa to train journalists on the operations of the key players in the energy sector value chain.

Facilitators from the various departments and agencies in the energy sector took turns to educate the journalists on their duties and challenges. 

Ing. Baah said delayed payments from government institutions and the high cost of producing power by the power generator also worsened the debt situation in the energy sector.

These challenges, he said, could be addressed through the implementation of cost-reflective tariffs that reflected the cost of the power generation and an effective payment schedule with the power generators, although such measures might face political challenges. 

According to Edward Bawa, a member of the Energy Committee in parliament, the power sector is currently facing a $1.5 billion debt that the government is unable to pay. 

Mr. Baah noted that technical losses through distribution losses by the Electricity Compan
y of Ghana also occasioned the debt situation in the energy sector. 

He said most of the infrastructure used in the distribution of electricity was old and inefficient, as it was installed as late as the 1960s. 

He, however, advised the government to pursue strategic reforms and investments through enhancing and upgrading infrastructure and improving billing and metering systems to address technical and distribution losses. 

Mr. Baah also said effective management of the energy sector required strong government structures. 

He emphasised that the strong government structure included a transparent regulatory framework and accountability mechanisms. 

Source: Ghana News Agency