Day: July 3, 2024

The Water Resources Commission is developing a Legislative Instrument (LI) to regulate the discharge of water in all its control form into water bodies.

The Legislative Instrument would also prescribe acceptable levels of pollution of all freshwater and estuarine water bodies and for the management of activities under riparian buffer zones.

It is being done under the Ghana Land Scape Restoration and Small-Scale Mining Project (GLRSSMP), with support from the World Bank.

As part of the processes for developing inclusive legislative instruments, the Water Resources Commission is organizing a national stakeholder consultative workshop towards strengthening engagements in the development of the instruments.

Mr Michael Dawutey, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, at a stakeholder meeting in Kumasi explained that these efforts would strengthen management of natural resources within the Savanna, forest, and cocoa growing landscapes in Ghana.

He said this would ensure the formalization of small-scale activitie
s for mining to be done responsibly and avoid destruction of the environment or water bodies.

Again, this would help to transition those doing illegalities into the legal regime to be able to monitor their activities.

Stakeholders made up of representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), community members, small scale miners, MMDAs, MoFA, Minerals Commission and other industry players in the Ashanti Region, attended the workshop.

Mr. Dawutey said pollution caused by these human and industrial activities posed dangers to the environment and compromised the quality of water services.

Dr. Bob Alfa, Acting Chief Executive, Water Resources Commission, said over the years, stakeholders had been using the existing policies to give advice on the need not to mine in buffer zones.

He was confident that the new LI would strengthen the Commission to sanction and prescribe penalties to those who breached the rules.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Civil Society Alliance Against Violent Extremism-Ghana (CAAVE Ghana) has called on the government to create jobs and reduce the growing youth unemployment in the country.

According to the Alliance, a coalition of dedicated civil society organisations, the country had not experienced the same level of extremist violence as some of its neighbours, the risk remained significant due to regional instability and the presence of extremist groups in the Sahel region.

A statement issued and signed by Mr Hussein Rahman, the National President of CAAVE-Ghana, and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, said the country was not immune to the threats posed by violent extremism.

‘We recognize the profound impact that violent extremism has on peace, security, and development’, it stated, saying though the country had not experienced large-scale terrorist attacks, there had been isolated incidents and arrests related to extremist activities.

In 2021, the National Security Ministry reported the arrest of ind
ividuals suspected of planning terrorist activities, highlighting the need for vigilance.

According to the Global Terrorism Index 2022, West Africa remains one of the most affected regions by terrorism, with countries like Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Mali experiencing high levels of extremist violence.

The spillover effects of these conflicts pose a threat to Ghana’s security, the statement indicated and added that the growing unemployment in the country made the youth vulnerable and exposed them highly to extremist groups.

A significant portion of the nation’s population is under the age of 30, and youth unemployment remains a pressing issue.

According to the World Bank, the youth unemployment rate in Ghana was approximately 12.6 per cent in 2020 and this demographic is particularly vulnerable to radicalization and recruitment by extremist groups.

It said Northern Ghana had experienced sporadic incidents of violent extremism, often fueled by socio-economic disparities, political marginalization, and ethn
ic tensions.

The region’s youth, who face high unemployment rates and limited opportunities, are particularly vulnerable to radicalization.

CAAVE Ghana is committed to implementing comprehensive and sustainable measures to address the challenges posed by violent extremism, it said.

‘Our approach aligns with global best practices and involves collaboration with national and international partners.’

It said the alliance conducted extensive community outreach programmes to raise awareness about the dangers of violent extremism and worked with local leaders, schools, and religious institutions to promote tolerance, peace, and social cohesion.

Recognizing the vulnerability of youth to radicalization, CAAVE Ghana implements programmes aimed at providing economic opportunities and vocational training, the statement said.

‘By addressing the root causes of unemployment and disenfranchisement, we aim to reduce the appeal of extremist ideologies,’ it added.

CAAVE Ghana also collaborates with national security age
ncies to enhance their capacity to detect and prevent extremist activities and that includes training programmes on counter-terrorism strategies, intelligence gathering, and community policing.

The statement explained the threat of violent extremism was a complex and evolving challenge that required a multifaceted and collaborative approach, saying CAAVE Ghana remained steadfast in its mission to safeguard the nation and contributed to global efforts to combat extremism.

It called on all stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, and the international community, to join hands in tackling the threats of violent extremism and building a safer and more resilient country free from the scourge of violent extremism.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Social media giant, Meta, has officially announced the expansion of its monetization features to Ghana to provide opportunities for content creators to rake in money from their talents.

This follows days of rumours about Meta’s decision to expand its monetization features and include Ghana on the list of countries eligible for monetisation.

In a statement issued by Ghana’s Minister of Information, Ms Fatimatu Abubakar in Accra on Tuesday, said the new monetisation strategy would allow content creators in Ghana to earn a share of the revenue from Facebook’s in-stream ads, providing an opportunity for financial gains when Meta places ads alongside their content.

Additionally, Meta plans to introduce ads on Facebook reels, further expanding revenue options for content creators, the statement added.

‘Later this year, these monetisation features will also be extended to Instagram, offering a broader platform for creators to benefit from their digital content, ‘it stated.

To participate in this programme, the
statement said content creators must comply with Meta’s stringent Partner Monetization Policies and Content Monetization Policies.

The initiative aims to enable Ghanaian content creators to generate income locally from their online activities, enhancing their ability to effectively manage digital businesses/

The Ministry of Information lauded Meta’s investment and recognised it as a significant milestone in advancing Ghana’s digital economy.

The statement indicated that the expansion of these monetization tools would create new opportunities for Ghanaian talented creators and support the growth of Ghana’s digital economy.

The Ministry had expressed optimism about the potential impact of Meta’s expanded features, emphasising the importance of continued collaboration to promote digital innovation in Ghana.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Richard Jakpa, a Businessman in the Ambulance trial, involving Dr Ato Forson, a former Deputy Minister of Finance, says the ambulance contract was tailor made to meet the government specifications.

He said this was because the contract was drafted by the government and not Big Sea Trading LLC, the suppliers of the ambulance.

Answering questions in a cross-examination led by Mr Godfred Dame Yeboah, the Attorney General, Mr Jakpa said the contract was reviewed by the then Office of the Attorney-General and approved for the government to go ahead.

Dr Forson, Dr. Sylvester Anemana, a former Chief Director of the Ministry of Health and Jakpa are charged with causing financial loss to the State.

The State later filed a nolle prosequi to discontinue the charges leveled against Dr Anemana, who is currently out of the country for medical treatment.

Dr Forson was granted a self-recognisance bail of GHS3million for allegedly wilfully causing financial loss of 2,370,000 euros to the State.

He is also facing an a
dditional charge of ‘Intentionally misapplying public property contrary to section 1 (2) of the Public Property Protection Act, 1977 (SMCD140).’

He said so for the AG to now say that a portion of the contract does not confer with the specifications should not be blamed on Big Sea but rather if there is any problem, AG should take the blame.

The accused person said the contract went through all the approvals, including both Cabinet and Parliament all through to the Public Procurement Authority.

He said all those approval processes went through due diligence to ensure that the contract adhered to all specifications.

But the AG disagreed with the accused person showing some documentation to indicate that approval was not given to Big Sea Trading LLC by both Cabinet and Parliament.

Mr Jakpa said the contract was drafted by the government and the evaluation for the cost was done by the government and after the Ministry of Health had satisfied itself that they were getting value for their money.

‘That Parliam
ent both NPP and NDC voted for the project according to their conscience after approving the technical specifications,’ he added.

The Prosecution said 2.3million euros of the total same as profit was paid under the Ambulance contract to Jakpa and Big Sea that was why they did not deliver to the State the right Ambulances, but the accused person disagreed.

‘What the AG is saying is false because the project went through various approvals, negotiations and the first proposal submitted to the government was in 2010,’ he added.

Mr Jakpa said it was not true that Big Sea General Trading LLC received payment before the delivery of the Ambulances at the port of entry, adding that there was no payment made to Big Sea General Trading LLC on November 26, 2014.

He said the Attorney-General was interpreting the technical issues in the contract wrongly.

He said the letter from Madam Sherry Ayittey,a former Minister for Health of Ghana, stopping the production of the ambulances was followed by Big Sea General Trading
LLC letter, informing the government of causing financial loss to the State.

The Prosecution said the Ministry of Health never requested from the Ministry of Finance authorizing the establishment of a Letter of Credit, but the accused person said there was an authorization through the legal opinion by the AG.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, the Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation, and Rural Development (MLGDRD), has called on experts, practitioners, and stakeholders to prioritise policy dialogues to spur socio-economic development, to improve urban mobility and accessibility.

He said this helped to create policies that were well-informed, widely accepted, and effectively implemented, leading to more robust and sustainable socio-economic development to improve urban mobility and accessibility.

‘Addressing myriads of challenges such as traffic congestion, air pollution and inadequate road infrastructure in our cities and towns does not only rest with the MLGDRD with its stakeholders but requires a collective effort from other Ministries, Departments and Agencies,’ he added.

The Minister was speaking at the close-out event of the Ghana Urban Mobility and Accessibility Project (GUMAP), dubbed the ‘Urban Mobility Forum,’ in Accra.

The event was held under the theme, ‘Prioritising Sustainable Urban Mobili
ty and Accessibility in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA).’

The forum provided the opportunity for experts, practitioners and stakeholders within the urban mobility and accessibility space to share insights and ideas to foster sustainability of urban mobility and accessibility with a focus on GAMA.

Mr Korsah said the GAMA had experienced rapid urbanisation and population growth, which had led to increased pressure on transportation infrastructure and services.

He said the ministry had over the years collaborated with other partners to formulate policies, devise strategies, and design programmes and projects for improved mobility and accessibility culminating in increased road infrastructure and conditions and improved urban services and livelihoods.

‘Indeed, one of these policies includes but is not limited to the final revised draft National Urban Policy and Implementation Plan. This incorporated a strategy relating to urban mobility and accessibility,’ he added.

 The Minister said this effort
by the ministry was intended to guide the design of various programmes and projects with a focus that went beyond transport to promote mobility and accessibility.

He said a key activity under the strategy was to allocate funding for urban mobility operating costs and investments from the Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies and national budgets and diversify and include other potential sources of financing for urban mobility and accessibility.

Dr Evans Aggrey-Darkoh, the Head of Civil Service, said researchers had argued that urban mobility challenges would worsen unless adequate measures were implemented as African cities continued to grow.

He said the United Nations had pointed out that the urban population in sub-Saharan African countries was projected to double by 2050.

Dr Aggrey-Darkoh said Ghana was among the rapidly growing urbanising Sub-Saharan African countries, adding that the urbanisation rate hovered around 4.7 per cent per annum.

‘Ghana Statistical Service has indicated that in 2021, 56.7
per cent of Ghana’s population lived in urban centres,’ he added.

He said urban mobility affected every aspect of daily life, from commuting to work and accessing essential services, to fostering economic activities.

The Head of Civil Service said ‘We must be futuristic in orientation and institution normative measures that could address the critical problems of society including but not limited to sustainable urban mobility and accessibility.

‘As we deepen the decentralisation drive and prevent the centralisation of decentralisation, let us enhance the accessibility of our people to the necessities of life, leverage technology and innovation across all MMDAs, and Develop non-motorised transport options among others’

‘Promote public awareness and engage stakeholders on what structures are necessary to improve our circumstances,’ he added.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The leadership of the Greater-Accra branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Tuesday called on Fatimatu Abubakar, the Minister of Information.

The three-man delegation led by Mr Charles Benoni Okine; the Greater-Accra Reginal Chairman, called on the Minister at her office in Accra.

It appealed to her to assist journalists, particularly young ones with training programmes, and liaise with ministries and agencies to freely grant needed information to journalists amongst other issues.

‘We are proposing that with your good offices, when you are considering the things you want to do with us, you can look at crash programmes for new entrants who may be using UNIMAC …we believe it would help the landscape,’ the Chairman said.

On the issue of misinformation and disinformation, he pleaded with the Minister to, as a matter of urgency, liaise with other ministries and agencies to assist journalists access information with ease.

He said, that would help curtail the spread of unverified information, which wa
s the cause of misinformation and disinformation which he said, did not help national development.

‘We want to appeal to you to speak to the various ministries and the cabinet ministers who are in charge and some agencies of government that when journalists come to them, they should be willing to engage them even if the issues involved have no proof. They should be willing to tell them what the truth is,’ he said.

Mr Okine raised issues of presidential-media engagement, which had stopped after the COVID-19 pandemic and police brutalities against journalists, which called for attention and intervention of the Ministry.

‘Since COVID ended, we haven’t really had any encounter with the President and that is also bringing some issues of misinformation because access to him has not been granted…,’ he said.

Mr Okine commended the Right to Information (RTI) Commission for helping journalists have access to required information and for the Minister’s open-door policy.

Madam Fatimatu Abubakar, responding to the re
quests and petitions, said the Ministry was working on a series of virtual and in-person training programmes on topics such as media ethics and law.

She said a committee had been constituted to run the programme.

She expressed concern for the lack of participation, especially on the part of senior media practitioners and heads of media institutions in past training sessions.

In her comments on police brutality and harassment of journalists, Madam Abubakar said the Ministry was giving it good attention.

She advised journalists to adhere to best practices and respect boundaries in their line of duty.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Central Region is set to launch its Central Agra Rice and commercialise rice production at its Assin Akropon rice processing plant.

The initiative being sponsored by the Korea International Corporation Agency (KOICA) formed part of its $ 8 million intervention under KOICA’s Rice Value Chain Support Programme (RVCSP) for farmers.

The Project seeks to improve the income of rural farmers in the Region to enhance their quality of life through increased rice production.

The Rice project, which is also to deploy capacities of the KOICA in the rice value chain intervention through machinery and equipment and knowledge and skills training programmes, was scheduled to end in December 2023 but had been extended to the end of this year.

Briefing the Heads of Department at the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) meeting, Mrs Justina Marigold Assan, the Central Regional Minister, disclosed that the Region had made significant strides in rice production which was commendable.

Rice production had tremendously incr
eased from 1624 metric tonnes in 2021 to 21430 in 2023 with an average yield of 3.37 tons per hectare to 4.7 tons respectively in the Region.

The first phase of the RVCSP launched in 2021 was implemented in five beneficiary districts in Gomoa East, Assin Fosu, Assin North, Assin South and Twifo Atti Morkwa to improve the quality of life of rural rice farmers through increased yields.

On agriculture, she noted that there was a need to revamp the sector towards ensuring the production of raw materials, food security and job creation.

On Politics, she appealed to all citizens to endeavour to act responsibly for peace before, during and after the 2024 general elections.

‘Let us find a way as a Council to constantly remind ourselves, our subordinates and the people within our circles, especially the youth to avoid tendencies that can throw this country off balance and ensure peaceful co-existence in Ghana.’

She urged all the Metropolitan Municipal Chief Executives to be proactive and collaborate with the RCC
for development.

At the meeting, various departments gave updates on their respective projects, policies and initiatives under the year under review.

They promised to work assiduously to help achieve the targets set for growth and development in the Region.

Some heads of departments asked questions regarding abandoned projects such as roads, infrastructure and among others.

The Regional Director of Roads and Highway, Mrs Mercy Achia Payne, briefed the house about the roadmap of activities by her outfit in the Region and gave updates on all roads undertaken and plans to complete abandoned road projects.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Charles Epiphany Attivor, President of the Ketu South Municipal chapter of the National Service Personnel Association (NASPA), has called on the Government to prioritise the welfare of service personnel in the country.

He said service personnel played key roles in nation-building but did not receive the requisite support including challenges such as the delay in paying their allowances which was a major problem.

Mr Attivor made the call, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) during a working visit to meet some service personnel within the Ketu South Municipality.

‘Government should do more to prioritise our needs nationwide. There are so many personnel who are suffering at their various posts despite their devotion and dedication to work,’ he said.

He appealed to authorities to make the payment of their allowances timely, periodic, and consistent, ‘so service personnel will know when their allowance would be paid as done in other sectors.’

Mr Attivor bemoaned the financial difficulty in run
ning the Association as a result of the delay in the payment of their allowance.

He hinted at some plans they intended to embark upon, which include the establishment of a ‘Naspa volunteer corps,’ and the ‘Naspa Care’ which would provide more than 5,000 customised stationeries to deprived basic schools.

Mr Attivor also lamented their pending three-month allowance arrears, which he said were taking a big toll on his members.

Over 250 service personnel are working within the Ketu South Municipality i both the public and private sectors.

Source: Ghana News Agency