Day: April 2, 2024

In the morning of March 29, the Information Office of the State Council of China held a series of press conferences on the theme of ‘Promoting High-quality Development’. Wang Weizhong, Governor of Guangdong Province, introduced the economic and social development of Guangdong around the theme of ‘Promoting High-quality Development of Guangdong and Advancing Modernization with Chinese Characteristics’.

Wang Weizhong said that Guangdong has actively advanced the construction of modernization with Chinese characteristics around the primary task of high-quality development as well as the strategic task of building a new development pattern. Guangdong held the provincial high-quality development conference on the first workday after the Spring Festival Holidays for two consecutive years, seizing the major opportunities of a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, and taking accelerating the mutual promotion and reinforcement of industries and technology as well as the d
evelopment of productivity of new quality as a strategic move.

Guangdong is a province with an enormous economy, a large population and a huge foreign trade. The regional GDP has reached 13.57 trillion yuan in 2023, accounting for about 1/10 in China, ranking first in the country for 35 consecutive years. The total number of business entities has exceeded 18 million, of which 7.8 million are enterprises, accounting for 1/7 of the country.

Guangdong has joined hands with Hong Kong and Macao to accelerate the construction of a world-class Greater Bay Area. On March 1, the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin has realized the branch line management, taking a key step towards the integration of Hengqin and Macao. The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Tunnel and Huangmao Sea Cross-Sea Corridor will be opened to traffic this year, making the major cities in the Greater Bay Area reachable within one hour.

Guangdong relies on productivity of new quality to inject strong vitality into high-quality development. Gua
ngdong has 71,000 industrial enterprises above designated size and 75,000 high-tech enterprises, ranking first in the country. The cumulative application volume of PCT international patents, the regional development index of intellectual property rights, the effective registered trademark volume, and the effective amount of invention patents all rank first in the country, and the regional innovation capacity has taken the first place nationwide for seven consecutive years.

Guangdong has comprehensively enhanced the comprehensive economic strength of the county, gathered efforts to improve the capacity level of urban construction, promoted the orderly transfer of domestic and foreign industries, especially those from the Pearl River Delta, to the east, west and north regions in Guangdong, and accelerated the transformation of disadvantages into ‘potential advantages’.

In 2023, the excellence rate of air quality in Guangdong was 94.8%, and the forest coverage rate amounted to 53%, so that a ‘greening-up’ has
been basically achieved. Now it is the time for ‘beautification’. Guangdong strives to optimize the forest diversification and improve the forest facies, actively and steadily promote carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, making the ecological environment of Guangdong better.

Guangdong has optimized the public service system and social security network to solve the urgent and worrying problems of the masses and promote common prosperity. Guangdong will spare no effort to ensure the employment of key groups.

Wang Weizhong and Zhang Hu, executive vice governor of Guangdong Province, responded to reporters’ questions on economic construction, coordinated development of urban and rural areas, foreign investment and foreign trade, business environment reform, ecological construction and other issues of concern to Chinese and foreign media.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ya-Na Abukari II the over lord of Dagbon has assured the Government that the people of Dagbon will continue to protect the Green Ghana trees.

He said the trees he led in planting in the area last year were doing well.

Ya-Na Abukari II gave the assurance when Mr. Georga Mireku Duker Deputy Minister for Lands and Mineral Resource and Forestry commission delegation called on him at the Gbewaa palace to invite him to Tamale on 16thApril 2024 to chair this year’s Green Ghana programmes at Tamale.

He indicated that he was always praying for peace in Dagbon and Ghana as a whole because without peace the Green Ghana programme and other projects could not take place.

He promised to be in Tamale for the programme as requested by president and Mr. Samule Abdulai Jinapor Minister for lands and Mineral Resource.

Ya-Na thanked the minister for the presentation of 10 bags of sugar, 20 bags of rice, 5 cartons of milk and cash for their fasting.

Mr. Mireku said this was not the first time he came to Ya-Na and Gbewaa pal
ace and he always felt at home and would visit the areas they planted the trees last year.

He said they will host the Green Ghana in Tamale as they did in Kumasi last year (2024).

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu, a Human Rights Lawyer and activist has petitioned the Criminal and Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service to arrest, investigate and prosecute Gborbu Wulomo over child marriage.

‘I respectfully crave your indulgence and pray that you exercise your powers of arrest, investigations, including potential defilement and prosecution in the defence and protection of this innocent child,’ he said. 

Some customary rites performed for Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII, 63-year-old Gborbu Wulomo, and a minor received widespread disapproval and backlash after videos and pictures of the ceremony appeared online.

Some human rights institutions and individuals have also called for the arrest and prosecution of the Wulomo.

The ceremony occurred on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at Nungua.

Meanwhile, the Traditional Authorities in Nungua have defended the act explaining that the Gborbu Wulomo temple required a girl who had not had sexual relations to attend to some deities, hence the choi
ce of the minor.

The authorities said the marriage was to the deity and not the 63-yeae-old Gborbu Wulomo.

The Police have placed the girl and her mother under protection and are working with the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection and the Department of Social Welfare to provide her with the necessary support while the matter is being investigated.

Mr Sosu in his petition copied the Inspector General of Police, Head of DOVSU, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and Gender Committee of Parliament said the conduct of the Wulomo constituted a breach of both local and international laws on childcare and protection and the said conduct was criminal.

He said Ghana was signatory to several international conventions that abhorred child betrothals and marriages.

‘In particular, the petitioner request that you avert your mind to Article 16(2) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that ‘Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the inte
nding spouses.”

‘Further, Article 16 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms Of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) states that women should have the same right as men to ‘freely choose a spouse and to enter into marriage only with their free and full consent’, and that the ‘betrothal and marriage of a child shall have no legal effect and all necessary action, including legislation, shall be taken to specify a minimum age for marriage.”

Mr Sosu also the Member of Parliament of Madina said beyond the realm of International Law, Ghana had taken further steps to criminalise Child Marriages and Betrothals in all its ramifications, adding that, Article 28 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution defined a child as a ‘person below the age of eighteen years.’

He said in the spirit of Article 28 every child and young person must receive special protection against exposure to physical and moral hazards.

The Human Rights Lawyer said the marriage between the Wulomo and the minor was illegal, null and void because b
y law a child under 18 did not have capacity to enter marriage.

He said notwithstanding the fact that traditional religious arguments were being made in support of the said illegality, the Constitution was clear in Article 26 with respect to the limitations of traditions and customs.

‘For the purposes of clarity Article 26 (1) provides as follows ‘Every person is entitled to enjoy, practise, profess, maintain and promote any culture, language, tradition or religion subject to the provisions of this Constitution.”

‘It provides further in Article 26(2) that ‘All customary practices which dehumanise or are injurious to the physical and mental well-being of a person are prohibited.’ It is my respectful view that the customary practice being referred to are unconstitutional and not backed by the laws of Ghana.’

Mr Sosu said Section 14 of Ghana’s Children’s Act,1998 (Act 560) set the legal age limit for marriages in Ghana at 18 years and expressly prohibited child marriage in Ghana.

Section 14 (1) provides ‘N
o person shall force a child (a) to be bethrothed (b) to be subject of a dowry transaction, or (c) to be married.’

Section 15 of Ghana’s Children’s Act,1998 (Act 560) provides for penalties for violation of the laws to include fine, imprisonment or both.

‘I wish to state that, in furtherance of the above, Section 109 of the Criminal Offences Act (Act 29) criminalises compulsion of marriages. It states that ‘whoever by duress causes a person to marry against his/her will, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and the punishment is a fine or imprisonment of up to three years’. It goes without saying that a child has no legal capacity to grant consent in such instances.’

‘In the circumstance therefore, it appears that a clear act of illegality and a careless abuse of the right of an innocent Ghanaian child has been perpetuated in the full glare of the Public,’ he said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Buying and selling have peaked in Sunyani, the Bono Regional capital, as the Traditional Council commences the pre-burial and funeral rites of the late paramount Chief of Sunyani Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri II.

As tradition demands, the traditional council has ordered the closure of shops, stores and major as well as satellite markets in the capital effective Wednesday April 3, 2024.

All food vending businesses along the streets of the capital are all expected to comply with the directive.

The Council announced the demise of Nana Nkrawiri on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, and had subsequently set his pre-burial and funeral rites for Monday April 1 to Sunday April 7.

Known in private life as Christian Kwaakye, Nana Nkrawiri was a retired educationist, born on May 31, 1946, and became the Paramount Chief of Sunyani on Monday, March 17, 1980.

During a market survey, the Ghana News Agency (GNA) noticed a boom in business activities at the Central Business District (CBD), the Nana Bosoma Central and the Sunyani ‘Masom
som’ markets respectively.

In the early hours of Tuesday, major shops, provision as well as cold stores at the CBD which hitherto would have opened around 0900, had already commenced brisk business.

At around 0700 hours some of the shop attendants, and women traders told the GNA that sales were very good and exciting, but they were worried about the directive to close their businesses.

‘I think the directive is very harsh, at least they should have considered and allowed us to open our stores in the evenings,’ a shopkeeper stated.

Madam Joyce Yeboah, a popular fishmonger and cold store operator at the ‘Masomasom’ market, said she was worried that her stuff would get rotten due to the intermittent power outages and fluctuations being experienced nowadays in parts of the municipality.

That notwithstanding, she said business seemed good, and expressed the hope that sales would continue in the course of the day.

At the Nana Bosoma Central Market, business activities looked brisk, though it was only reserved
for Wednesdays where traders from other parts of the municipality and villages throng to sell their stuff.

Some of the buyers the GNA chanced on explained they were in the central market to buy and store more stuff that would meet their needs on the days of the funeral celebration.

Meanwhile, the brisk business activity in the town has created a field day for wheelbarrow, truck pushers and head potters in the Municipality.

Some of them told the GNA they arrived at the central market around 0600 hours, and business had since been good.

Amina Salifu, a single mother, and a head potter said the demand for her service had been exciting at the market and she had even made new customers.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr. Jones Ofori-Boadu, Deputy Executive Secretary, Corporate Service at the Lands Commission, has urged government institutions to promote inclusivity and unity among staff from various religious groups.

He said that this would serve to foster staff well-being, religious tolerance, and, in the long term, productivity.

It was also important for employee and institutional development.

Mr Ofori-Boadu made the call at the maiden Iftar session for the Greater Accra Regional Office of the Land Commission for the Muslim staff of the institution.

‘These principles influenced management’s decision to support the Muslim staff of the institution to have an Iftar session.

‘The role this iftar session would play is that even as the Muslims have an event to break the fast, you can see some Christians among them who are breaking bread with them.

‘We think this will foster unity, oneness, and understanding. It is time that we all, not only Muslims, adhere to integrity, hard work, and accountability to be able to serve
the institution better,’ he said.

The session saw both Muslim and Christian staff members of the institution participate in the iftar, eating various meals to break their fast.

Mr Ofori-Boadu urged the Muslims at the institution to follow the protocols for fasting during and after Ramadan.

Lieutenant Colonel Umar Sanda Ahmed, Guest Imam for the event, exhorted the employees of the institution to maintain the good habits developed throughout the holy month even after the period had ended and to exercise good faith in executing their duties.

Iftar is the fast-breaking evening meal of Muslims during Ramadan, served at the call to prayer.

According to Muslim thinkers, Iftar has both symbolic and social significance since it shows Allah’s special mercy and love for those who have fasted, particularly those who provided food for others to break their fast.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The William Wade Harris 12 Apostles Church of Ghana at Canaan, Krisan in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region has ourdoored a new National General Bishop, James Tani V, as the fifth bishop of the church.

His elevation, consecration and outdooring followed the passing on of the fourth Bishop General, Mr Emmanuel Tani IV.

The special event took place when members of the church from Ghana, La Cote D’Ivoire and the Diaspora, converged during the 11th Annual Easter Convention at the church’s Headquarters at Canaan, Krisan near Eikwe in the Western Region.

These include the national executives, board members, prophets/prophetesses, pastors, elders, trainees and the youth wing.

In a message to round -off the week-long Easter Convention, the General Bishop said the highest office conferred on him has encouraged him to discharge his mandate creditably to bring the church onto a higher pedestal.

Bishop Tani called for continuous prayers for the economic prosperity of the nation to reverse the current hard
ships.

‘As the nation goes to the polls in December, political actors and their followers must ensure a level playing field and give peace a chance,’ he said.

Preaching on the theme: ‘And I Will Give My Spirit to You and You Shall Live,’ the Apostle of the Church, Enoch Agyevi Kwame, said the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ must resurrect everything in the Christian’s life to make him/her new.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who joined the church as part of his visit to the District, asked the church to pray for God’s intervention to resuscitate Ghana’s falling currency.

The MP asked Christians to pray for the President so he would not succumb to international pressure and intimidation not to accent to the LGBTQ+ bill.

Mr Kofi Buah also asked the church to pray for peace, love and unity in the run-up to the December general election.

The former Member of Parliament for Evaloe-Adjomoro Gwira, Madam Catherine Abenlemah Afeku, congratulated the
NPP Constituency Secretary, known in private life as Mr James Amachie Kainyah, on his elevation as the National General Bishop of the church.

She advised women to support women in politics to champion their cause.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, Tuesday inaugurated the Greater Accra Regional Lands Office complex to provide a suitable working environment for the staff.

The edifice comprised spacious office spaces, an auditorium and conference rooms, which would serve as a hub for land transactions and enhance efficiency in service delivery.

The state-of-the-art facility was funded with the Commission’s Internally- Generated Funds (IGF) and would accommodate the four Divisions: Survey and Mapping, Land Registration, Land Valuation, and Public and Vested Land Management.

Speaking at the commissioning of the office complex in Accra, Mr Jinapor said land was the cornerstone of the country’s socio-economic development; therefore, the office complex would enhance integration of services in transactions and improve staff productivity.

‘Today marks a very important step in our quest to build an effective, transparent, responsive and orderly land administration, which is steeped in integri
ty,’ he said.

‘I commend the leadership of the Lands Commission and the Greater Accra Regional Office for putting up this edifice to serve the land needs of the people of our capital city, Accra.’

He highlighted the importance of land to the country’s socio-economic development, noting that all human activities revolved around it.

‘Land is the fulcrum to the success of all sectors of the economy such as agriculture, mining, security, manufacturing, trade, education, transportation, infrastructure, energy, and health, among others.’

Mr Jinapor referenced data from the Ghana Statistical Service, which estimates that some 90 per cent of the country’s population derived their livelihoods directly or indirectly from land.

He, therefore, underscored the need for an effective land administration to drive the nation’s progress and prosperity.

‘The adverse consequences of ineffective, fraudulent and weak land administration is very damning,’ he said.

‘It is, therefore, not surprising that article 258 of our nat
ional Constitution establishes the Lands Commission to, among others, manage public lands, ensure effective registration of land, and formulate national policies for the administration and use of land.’

To ensure efficient administration, Mr Jinapor called for the need to equip and empower the Regional Lands Commission to perform their constitutional functions.

It was imperative to adapt and enhance the capabilities of the Commission to meet the demands of the modern era, he added.

‘That is why under the able leadership of President Akufo-Addo, we have been championing reforms in land administration with the view of transforming the Lands Commission into a modern, efficient, and customer-centric institution capable of meeting the diverse needs of our society.’

At the heart of those reforms was the decentralisation of land administration, including the establishment of six fully digitised offices for the six new regions, and the roll out of satellite Client Service Access Units (CSAU) in all regional offic
es to bring services closer to the doorsteps of the public.

The facility, he said, was part of several projects being undertaken by the Commission to provide a conducive work environment for the staff and those who accessed its services.

‘We are, also, implementing our Urban Redevelopment Scheme, under which 504 two-bedroom self-contained housing units, with a school complex, a clinic and a recreational area, had been constructed for the Ghana Police Service.’

Office complexes have also been constructed for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), the Ghana Airport Company Limited and the Ghana Meteorological Agency.

That, he said, would pave the way for the redevelopment of the 80-acres of land between Stanbic Heights and the Ministry of Defence.

In addition to those developments, Mr Jinapor said the Government was pursuing an aggressive digitisation agenda, to digitalise the records of the Commission to promote a robust land administration that ensures peace, security, and economic growth.

A
lready, the Commission had successfully migrated some of its operations into the digital environment and rolled out the Enterprise Land Information System (ELIS), which offered some select services fully online.

‘Today, a search in the Commission’s records can be conducted from anywhere in the world, and at any time of the day,’ Mr Jinapor said.

‘The introduction of the Electronic Property Mass Appraisal System (EPMAS) had facilitated the revaluation of properties in several Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and, thus, boosting revenue drive.’

‘Without a doubt, the Greater Accra Region holds a special place in land administration in our country. I am told it is the busiest Regional Office of the Commission.’

‘It is, therefore, imperative that we provide a befitting office space that ensures the majority of our people who access our services get the best of service delivery.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Krofrom market, a multi-million dollar commercial edifice in one of the prominent suburbs of Kumasi, is now a den of rodents and criminals.

The site has grown into a forest, where young boys set traps for rats.

It has also become a den for all sorts of criminal activities during the day and night.

The project, which was started in 2007 by former President Kuffuor, was to be completed in six months but was abandoned in 2008, mainly due to lack of funds.

The market was supposed to accommodate over 500 stores and shelves and to enhance business activities in the metropolis.

The completion of the Krofrom Market Project was crucial, especially when the people in the metropolis saw it as an important project to reduce congestion in the central business district, when the redevelopment of the Kejetia and the Kumasi central market projects were started.

This did not happen and the market continue to rot, while people and vehicles are unable to move freely in the central business districts of Kumasi due to t
he presence of hawkers and traders on the streets.

Several appeals and agitations by traders and residents for the completion of the abandoned market have failed to yield any positive results.

When Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited the site of the project on April 1, 2024, to access the current situation of the market, reporters met a group of young men trapping rats, a situation which looks worrisome.

The deterioration and bushy situation of the market is not only an eyesore, but a danger to residents and those who hawk around the market, and needs urgent attention from the government.

Some traders and residents near the abandoned project expressed frustration over the prolonged period of abandonment, which was impacting negatively on commercial activities in the area.

Madam Charity Ayamba, who weaves Kente in one of the floors, said though it had provided a place for her Kente weaving business, the continued abandonment of the project by the government was a worrying situation to everybody in the communi
ty.

Mr Kofi Douglas, a resident, also explained that passing around the market was a nightmare since one could easily lose his or her properties to criminals who had taken over the project.

According to him, the market had also become a refuse dump and toilet facility for some people in the area.

Weed smokers and junkies have also taken over the abandoned market as shelter for their nefarious activities.

Mr Isaac Owusu, assemblyman for the Krofrom electoral area, told GNA that the situation of the abandoned market had become problematic after many calls to authorities to complete it had failed.

He said, economic activities in the area had stagnated, while some youth of the area were engaging in criminal activities in the building.

Mr Owusu said recently, he erected some street lights to illuminate the area in the night as part of efforts to ward-off criminals.

He said he planned to get the area weeded in the coming days.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The leadership of El-Kana Ministries International in Tema Community Three has unveiled and renamed the ministry as Greater Grace Impact Ministries (GGIM).

Apostle Ernest Adeti, the General Overseer of the church, said at a ceremony to unveil the new name that, the church’s new identity would impact the grace of God on the next generation to know and fear God and serve him with their hearts, souls, and resources.

Apostle Adeti said looking at the pace at which the world is evolving and changing, if the new generation was not brought up in a Godly manner, the world would be chaotic and full of sin. 

He said the core mandate of churches was to impact the new generation through the fear of the Lord, the essence of his resurrection, and the power Christ gave to Christians.

‘The name is a demonstration of Christ in the church, calling out the apostles and faithful followers and giving them power over unclean spirits, casting demons, and pouring out the great grace and power of God that dwells in them,’ he adde
d.

Apostle Adeti said Christians should note that Christ died for their sins and took away their old lives; therefore, their attitudes, characters, and behaviours must reflect Christ.

He said that as a country, it was important for the citizens to be Christ-centered in all their endeavours, showing diligence, transparency, and accountability, whether in the political field, church, workplace, or even with their families and society.

He cautioned Christians against judging and condemning unbelievers, but rather preaching the undiluted gospel and encouraging others to believe in God and receive salvation.

He urged Christians not to lose faith, saying, ‘As humans, we may offend each other or even the one who created us, but that does not mean you should lose faith in God, your first love, or forget about his love; rather, we should hold on to our faith because every step we take in the world will be full of trials and tests.’

Apostle Adeti, touching on the ongoing challenge of the Ghanaian Proper Human Sexu
al Rights and Family Bill, popularly known as the anti-gay bill, said Christian values should be upheld highly as God does not encourage same-sex relationships or marriage, noting that what happened in biblical Sodom and Gomorrah was a clear depiction of God’s wrath if such a thing should happen in Ghana.

He urged President Akufo-Addo to assent to the bill passed by parliament, as failure to do so as a leader might put a curse on future generations and could also disrupt the peace in the country.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Africa Tourism Research Network (ATRN) has appealed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration to reconsider the ‘inimical action’ of a 400 per cent increment in passport fees.

In a release issued to the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday in Accra, it said increasing passport application fees (32 paged) from GHc 100 to GHc 500 (an increase of 400 per cent) was ‘just too much to say the least’.

It said it was impossible for ordinary citizens to pay ‘this astronomical fee increases’.

The Network said the increment could have been gradual over a period.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Upperlink Consult, a skills development and sustainable waste management organisation in Wa, has introduced some women to a climate-friendly alternative livelihood venture to preserve the environment.

A total of 20 women drawn from four communities within the Wa Municipality-Nakore, Kpongu, Jonga and Wa went through a week-long skills training in briquette charcoal production, an alternative to lump wood charcoal production.

Some five men within the beneficiary communities also benefited from the training which formed part of the implementation of the Ghana Skills Development Fund (GSDF) project, an initiative of the government of Ghana.

The Upperlink Consult is implementing the project in the Upper West Region to enhance economic opportunities of people, especially women and other vulnerable groups in society.

Professor Hamidatu Darimani, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Upperlink Consult, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview during the training that, the issues of climate change and
deforestation had been a major concern to the government.

She said her outfit thought it wise to train the women in briquette charcoal production since they were directly involved in the use of charcoal for cooking and the felling of trees for charcoal production.

She said aside tackling the issues of climate change and deforestation through briquette charcoal production, the intervention would serve as an employment opportunity for the women since they could play active roles throughout the value chain.

‘So, we can employ these women to pick these carbonised materials immediately after farming. You know, they don’t have any work doing, (after the farming season), so, it will earn them a living.

In our little corner, we are trying to reduce unemployment and solve the climate issues in this region’, Prof. Darimani said.

She said Upperlink Consult would extend the training to other communities in the region to form a team of briquette charcoal producers in the region.

She said the programme was also an op
portunity to create awareness of the danger of tree felling and deforestation to the environment and human existence.

She gave the assurance that her organisation would sustain the training after the project elapsed and appealed for support from well-meaning organisations to continue to train the people.

Mr Amin Suleman, the Chief Labourer at Zaacoal, a briquette charcoal production company in Ghana, espoused the economic potential of briquette charcoal to the women.

Mr Suleman said the produce had a big market both locally and internationally as it could be used in households and factories.

He said the advocacy against lump wood charcoal in Ghana and the proposed ban on the importation of lump wood charcoal to the European markets by 2027 further presented a big market potential for briquette charcoal.

Mr Suleman, who was a facilitator of the training, observed that Ghana was a charcoal consumption economy compared to LPG gas and electricity, which was also an economic advantage for actors in the brique
tte charcoal value chain.

He said apart from briquette charcoal being environmentally friendly, it was also more durable than lump wood charcoal and preferred by many charcoal-dependent industries.

Some beneficiaries, who spoke to the GNA, expressed happiness about the skills they had acquired through the training and expressed hope that it would impact their economic lives meaningfully.

Madam Adams Hawawu, a beneficiary, said: ‘The importance of this training is big. We can also produce it and even if we will not sell but we can use it to cook and that means we will not have to spend money to buy charcoal again.’

Madam Marry Salifu, another beneficiary, said the skills gained through the training would enable them to stop cutting trees to produce charcoal saying, ‘From here I can also produce them if I get the machines.’

Source: Ghana News Agency