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Addis Ababa: State Minister Birtukan Ayano, held discussions with US Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, Ambassador Rena Bitter, at her office today.
The discussion covered consular affairs, the issuance of visas, and other consular services in both countries, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The two parties agreed to strengthen cooperation in consular affairs and other related issues.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency
Operationalisation of the National Agriculture Insurance Fund is expected to take off by the close of the third quarter of this year.
The Fund is a mitigating intervention mechanism to provide a certain percentage of insurance premium to cushion farmers to access such facilities.
The fund is expected to benefit small holder Farmers and women especially, to withstand climatic events and disasters which often left devastating effects on farmers.
Mr Yunus Abdulai, the Country Lead of Policy LINK, disclosed this at the closing ceremony of a five-day training workshop for the 2023 national farmers day women award winners to build their capacities in the agriculture sector.
The 25 participants who were awarded during the 2023 farmers day celebration including the National best farmer, Madam Charity Akortia were taken through leadership and women empowerment topics to enhance their farming activities.
Mr Abdulai said the Act establishing the fund had been in place for some time now but not operational.
He said
Policy LINK and other allied partners were presently working on the Act to design a framework, define the modalities, governance structure and criteria of crops to be targeted for the premiums.
He said his organisation was poised to support the government of Ghana to improve the conditions of farmers by providing technical and logistical support such as hiring of consultants to meet the third quarter deadline goal set.
One of the major challenges faced by small holder Farmers and those involved in primary production in the agriculture sector in Ghana has been lack of finance and support from the banks in terms of loan facilities due to high risks of losses as well as insurance covers.
Mr Yaw Frimpong Addo, a Deputy Minister of Agriculture in charge of Crops said women produced about 70 per cent of Ghana’s food basket, therefore the Ministry was focused on programmes and projects that would improve the lots of farmers especially women and smallholders.
He commended Policy LINK for instituting the annual ca
pacity building workshop and other support systems for women farmers awardees and the setting up of the Ghana Association of Female Agriculture and Fish Farming Award Winners (GAFAFAW).
Source: Ghana News Agency
Mrs Eunice Asiedu, Programmes Coordinator, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Economic Competence Centre, has urged the government to prioritise environmental sustainability in the development pathway to prevent grave toll on livelihoods and environmental crisis.
This will ensure the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
She said economic development trajectories across the globe had led to massive destruction of the environment, the current climate crisis and the continuous degradation of the environment had compounded the situation.
Therefore creating a dialogue among stakeholders and building synergy across institutional divisions would ensure sustainable environmental practices.
Mrs Asiedu said this at the launch of the Ghana Environment Manifesto which was on the theme: ¨Creating Prosperity For Ghanaians While Ensuring Environmental Sustainability And Ensuri Intergenerational Equality¨.
She said this could be done by strong political will, key institutions and grassroots mobilisation to achie
ve environmental conservation.
She urged political leaders to urgently centre their environmental sustainability at the centre of their agenda.
Mr Daryl Bosu, Deputy National Director, A. Rocha Ghana, speaking on the environment manifesto said the Civil Society Organisation (CSO) on Environmental protection would ensure the government prioritise the manifestos outlined towards the 2024 elections.
The environment manifesto included the land sector, oil, gas and energy, water and sanitation, forestry, climate, marine, biodiversity and mining sectors.
He said the CSOs would show proactiveness and ensure a positive outcome for a resilient environment.
He said whichever party wins this year’s election would ensure the full implementation of the manifesto.
Mr Bosu said over the past years the national budget did not prioritise ecosystem services and allocated a scanty budget to the environment sector.
He said the manifesto would be used to aid political parties in appreciating the need for environmental prot
ection for healthy and generational living.
¨We are giving them a blueprint to look at, this is what we need for developmental growth¨.
Talking about the political will, he said CSOs would track and challenge political parties to ensure these manifestos are met.
The whole idea was to help the government understand the need for environmental protection for the attainment of the SDGs.
Source: Ghana News Agency
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia Wednesday expressed his heartfelt condolences to the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, following the passing of his wife, Hajia Rahmatu.
On his Facebook page, Dr Bawumia wrote: ‘Inaa lillahi wa inaa ilayhi raji’un.’
‘I have learnt with sadness, the passing of our dear grandmother and beloved wife of the National Chief Imam, Hajia Rahmatu Tahwee Sheikh Sharubutu.’
‘Hajia Samira Bawumia and I extend our condolences to His Eminence, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, and the entire family’.
May the Almighty Allah welcome our dear grandmother and grant her Jannatul Firdaus, he wrote.
Source: Ghana News Agency
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration on Wednesday advised Ghanaians to avoid conscription and non-essential travels to conflict areas of the world.
The Ministry, in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency, cautioned the travelling public to be wary of the activities of middlemen/agents who purport to secure citizenship, resident permits and job offers in conflict areas and in countries at war as those journeys were perilous and often had dire consequences.
In the light of ongoing conflicts and the risk of conscription in certain countries or regions around the world, travellers were strongly advised to exercise caution and carefully consider their travel plans.
‘Travellers are also advised to prioritise their safety and well-being when offered jobs in regions with potential risks of conscription and armed conflict,” the statement said.
‘By staying informed, exercising caution and taking proactive measures, individuals can reduce the likelihood of being conscripted into military se
rvice while travelling in conflict areas.’
Source: Ghana News Agency
It is with a heavy heart that the President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs; Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Dr. Agyemang Badu II, the Sunyani Traditional Council, through its Ag. President, Nana Kwaku Sarbeng Ababio II, the Omanhemaa of Sunyani; Nana Akosua Duaa Asor Sika Brayie II, Nananom of Sunyani Traditional Area, the Bono Regional Minister; Hon. Justina Owusu Banahene, the Boahen Korkor Royal Family of Sunyani and the Funeral Committee directs me to officially inform the General Public about the Funeral Rites of the Late Paramount Chief of the Sunyani Traditional Area, Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri II.
In anticipation of high attendance for the Funeral Rites, the following arrangements have been made with regards to the Dotiyie and the Filing Past of the Late Paramount Chief. The Funeral Rites will start from Monday, 1st April, 2024 and end on Sunday, 7th April, 2024.
DAY 1 – Monday, 1st April, 2024 –
9:00 am: Fetish Priest (Akomfour) Display at the Victoria Park,
3:00 pm: Receiving Adwade3 at the Old Palace
DAY 2 – Tuesday, 2nd April, 2024 –
10:00 am – 6:00pm: Day of Mourning by Nananom of Sunyani Traditional Area, the Children, Widows, the Boahen Korkor Royal Family, in-laws and all sympathizers all over the country will file past at the Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri II Royal Palace – Sunyani
DAY 3 – Wednesday, 3rd April, 2024 –
10:00 am to 6:00 pm: Day of Mourning by Market Women, the Business Community (Stores, Shops and Hotels), Public Servants, Civil Servants, Banks, Insurance Companies, Schools (Private and Public), All Institutions, the General Community and all sympathizers all over the country will file past at the Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri II Royal Palace – Sunyani
DAY 4 – Thursday, 4th April, 2024 –
10:00 am to 6:00 pm: Day of Mourning by the Former Presidents of Ghana, Aspiring Presidents, All Political Parties, Muslim Council, Zongo Chiefs, Zongo Communities, Nananom and all sympathizers all over the country will file past at the Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri II Royal Palace – Sunyani
DAY 5 – Burial S
ervice and Dotiyie, Friday, 5th April, 2024-
10:00 am to 6:00: – Day of Mourning by the President of the Republic of Ghana, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Dr. Agyemang Badu II (President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs and Omanhene of Dormaa Traditional Area), MPs, MCEs, Ministers, Staffs National and Regional Houses of Chiefs, Traditional Councils, Chiefs, Queen Mothers, Religious Organizations and Leaders, Ghana Catholic Bishop Conference, Priests, Christian Council, Ghana Pentecostal Council, In-laws, the General Public and all sympathizers all over the country will file past at the Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri II Royal Palace – Sunyani. The Burial Service will be conducted on this day by the Presbyterian Church of Ghana
DAY 6 – Dotiyie: Saturday, 6th April, 2024 –
10:00 am to 6:00pm: In line with Customs and Tradition, Nananom of Sunyani Traditional Area, the Children, Widows, the Boahen Korkor Royal Family, In-laws, the General Public and all sympathizers around the globe will sit at the Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawi
ri II Royal Palace – Sunyani
DAY 7 – Thanks Giving Service: Sunday, 7th April, 2024
10:30 am – 1:00 pm: All Churches, Religious Bodies, Nananom and the General Public will assemble at the Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri II Royal Palace – Sunyani for the service
It is our hope that this letter will be duly adhered to.
Thank you.
Source: Ghana News Agency
Reverend Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo, the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Ghana has called for peace and love as Christians celebrate Easter festivities.
He said, ‘We must eschew tendencies that will compromise the peace of the country.’
Giving a message at a news conference in Accra, on Wednesday, Rev. Dr Boafo said the Easter celebration was a renewal season which granted an opportunity for rejuvenation of mind-sets and attitudes for change, and a time of rebirth and new beginnings.
He said Easter was an affirmation of God’s peace to humanity, therefore, avoiding hatred, death, doubt, and despair would ensure peace to prevail in Ghana.
He said as Jesus Christ rose from the dead, ‘We too as individuals, communities, churches and as a nation can rise above our challenges, doubts, and fears to thrive for development.’
Speaking at this year’s elections, he urged the Electoral Commission to be a fair and neutral umpire in all the processes leading to during and after the elections.
He said security p
ersonnel should be professional and impartial judges to engender trust during the elections and advised political parties to be measured in their communication and engagements, embracing inclusive language and avoiding abusive and offensive language in their campaigns.
‘In the Spirit of peace, the electorate must understand that there is only one Ghana, and it must not become avenues for conflict and bloodshed but rather comportment and civility to thrive as a nation, ‘he added.
He called on the media to avoid sensational, disaffection and biased reportage for a peaceful election.
Source: Ghana News Agency
The Duayaw- Nkwanta Traditional Council in the Ahafo Region has expressed gratitude to the Government for making its dream of having a Fire Service Academy and Training School in the area possible.
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on Tuesday commissioned a new Fire Service Training School in Duayaw-Nkwanta, the second school to be constructed by the Akufo-Addo-led Government.
This takes the national tally of fire academies and training schools in Ghana to three.
Speaking at the commissioning, Nana Boakye Bonsu, the Acting President of Duayaw-Nkwanta Traditional Council, expressed joy and gratitude of his people to President Nana Akufo-Addo and Vice President Bawumia for the facility.
‘Indeed, today is a great day for our Municipality and the Traditional Area. The reason is that the dream and concept of this wonderful project that we are witnessing today were initiated and conceived by wonderful persons like the late Nana Boakye Tromo III, Omanhene and President of the Duayaw Nkwanta Traditional Council,
‘ he said.
‘The entire Traditional Council wants to take this opportunity to express our profound gratitude to the government.’
The school comprised a dormitory, classroom and administration blocks, as well as modern training equipment such as hydraulic platforms to reach the 16th floor to fight fires and effect rescue operations.
The Vice President announced that a third Fire Service Training School built by the Government in the Eastern Region would soon be commissioned.
Source: Ghana News Agency
Mr Abu Kansangbata, a former Deputy Upper West regional Minister has called on the government to come out with realistic plans that will ameliorate the plight of Ghanaians from the intermittent power outages they are facing.
‘In order to restore trust and confidence in the government’s ability to address the Dumsor crisis, there is an urgent need for a comprehensive timetable that provides clarity and predictability for businesses and individuals alike’.
In a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, Mr Kansangbata said access to such a timetable would enable businessmen and women to plan their daily activities more effectively.
That , he said would also mitigate the adverse effects of power outages on productivity and economic stability.
He said despite assurances from the government, the reality on the ground painted a grim picture, with ‘Dumsor’ exacerbating the challenges faced by citizens and businesses alike.
‘From increased production costs for businesses to disruptions in daily activiti
es for households, the impact of ‘Dumsor’ is felt across all sectors of society. As citizens demand accountability and effective solutions from their leaders, my criticism serves as a catalyst for meaningful dialogue and urgent action to address the pressing challenges in Ghana’s power supply.
Source: Ghana News Agency
The Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) has asked shippers to alert the Authority should they be assessed charges stemming from the Internet service disruption or any other delays not occasioned by them.
The Authority said it had engaged terminal operators and other shipping service providers to ensure that Shippers were not charged for delays in the cargo arrival and clearing process not occasioned by the shipper, and asked players in the sector to reach out to the Authority for redress where necessary.
It said Internet service disruptions were already inflicting negative financial consequences on the shipping/clearing activities of the shipper, needing the concerted efforts of all stakeholders.
‘Considering that most processing done via the shipping value chain is digitised, the Ghana Shippers’ Authority is not oblivious to the effect of high storage (rent) and demurrage charges that may result from the delays occasioned by the disruption,’ Mr Kwesi Baffour Sarpong, Chief Executive Officer, GSA, said in a ne
ws brief, urging shippers to contact the Authority when necessary.
Source: Ghana News Agency
The Western Regional Office of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has embarked on a campaign to educate road users, especially drivers, on the need to observe safety rules and regulations during the Easter holidays.
The ‘Stay Alive Easter Campaign,’ being undertaken throughout the Easter period, is being done in collaboration with the Western Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).
Some of the activities carried out as part of the campaign included pre-departure checks, highway enforcement, and vantage point sensitisation, which were all geared towards promoting good road practices among drivers, with a focus on speeding limits.
Mr Victor Kojo Bilson, the Western Regional Head of the NRSA, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that the Authority focused on ensuring that drivers sped within the appropriate limits because it had identified overspeeding as one of the main causes of road traffic
crashes during festive seasons.
He said: ‘We want drivers to understand the negative effects of overspeeding in the sense that the faster you go, the higher the severity of potential crashes.’
He advised drivers to always abide by the laid down rules on speeding, saying ‘The only way to stay alive during the Easter holidays is for our drivers to reduce speeding and take travellers to their various destinations safely’.
Mr Bilson also encouraged drivers to ensure that their vehicles met the approved road-worthy standards to help guarantee the safety of passengers.
‘If your tyres, wipers, lights and other parts of your vehicles are not functioning well, you have no business transporting people from one place to another. We must ensure our vehicles are worthy of the roads for our safety,’ he noted.
The Western Region NRSA Head cautioned drivers against violating road safety rules, saying offenders would be severely dealt with.
Source: Ghana News Agency
The swift intervention of some Nyamesom miners near Kwabenakwa averted a robbery attack at a mining site in Obuasi.
A soldier was allegedly arrested in connection with the robbery attempt whilst three of his alleged accomplices escaped.
Lance Corporal Eric Opoku of the Airborne, Tamale, together with his colleagues, one of whom he mentioned as Musah Jafa of the Tema Naval Base, told the police allegedly that they had gone to the site to get their ‘chop money’.
A police brief said the four in their military uniforms had worn white long Muslim dresses called ‘jalabia’ over their uniforms and were armed with pump action gun, knives, among other weapons.
It said they had entered the mining site allegedly amidst gun shots, necessitating a distress call to the Police, who quickly responded.
The brief said the police met the callee and other 20 civilians who had arrested one of the culprits.
According to the brief, the suspect told the police that he was currently on operation at Bawku and that he was on a-14-
day leave.
He allegedly said he and the others had gone to the site to look for ‘chop money’ and that they gave warning shots to scare workers at the site.
Opoku also told the police allegedly that he and his alleged accomplices took hostage of the excavator operator, but luck eluded him, and he was grabbed whilst the rest escaped.
The suspect, since his arrest on March 24, 2024, is assisting Police in investigations, especially in getting the other members of the gang.
Source: Ghana News Agency