Day: May 3, 2024

Residents of Brukum Trawa, a rural community near Sekesua in the Upper Manya Krobo District of the Eastern Region, have threatened to boycott the 2024 general election due to a lack of social amenities.

The community members shared their grievances with the Ghana News Agency during an interview, stating that they had been deprived of essential services.

Nene George Sangmortey, the Chief of Brukum Trawa, expressed frustration over the years of neglect by the state in terms of community roads, electricity, and telecommunications networks, which were negatively impacting their lives and farming businesses.

He said vehicles were unable to transport farm produce, forcing the residents to find alternative but difficult methods to move their produce to the market centres.

‘We feel we’re not a part of Ghana, as we have been neglected by successive governments,’ Nene Sangmortey said.

‘Vehicles are unable to ply the road to transport farm produce; when we harvest them, we will have to do everything possible to ma
ke the stuck vehicle move, a situation that is destroying our livelihoods.’

Despite nearby villages being connected to the national power grid and having access to telecommunications, the residents of Brukum Trawa had not experienced any such improvements, the Chief said.

Ms Sarah Awatey, a resident, said the poor road conditions had persisted for years without any signs of improvement, and though residents had attempted to organise communal labour to fix the road, erosion during rainy seasons continued to erode their gains.

She said the community had reached out to the District Assembly for assistance, but to no avail.

‘We have been organising ourselves to construct the road through communal labour, but during rainy seasons, erosion has been affecting the road, and we have called on the district assembly to help us, but to no avail,’ she said.

Pregnant women had had their share of complications when being transported to seek antenatal care, Ms Awatey said, citing instances where some in labour gave birt
h on the road while being conveyed on motorcycles.

Ms Dora Awatey, a trader, said the lack of electricity had led to increased snake bites, forcing people to leave their homes.

‘Due to the absence of telecom reception, it is difficult for companies to contact their customers here,’ she said.

‘And market women who also have to travel from Kumasi, Accra, and other regions to buy farm produce from us will wait for our calls before proceeding and so the network has become a bane to our business.’

Mr John Tetteh, another resident, said they would not support any political party in the upcoming elections if their issues remained unresolved.

‘We have informed the chief that we will not attend meetings if political figures invite us,’ he said.

‘Since we are in an election year, they should provide us with electricity, rehabilitate our road to aid transportation of our farm produce, and fix telecommunications networks, otherwise we will not entertain any campaign here.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

The governor of the Far North region, Midjiyawa Bakary says victims of the May 2nd landslide in Florina in Maroua II failed to adhere to warnings to stop extracting rocks and crushing them into smaller particles on the hill where the incident occured for sale.

He was speaking while on the scene to take stock of the situation.

‘The SDO , D.O , and Mayor have warned the population severally to stop crushing rocks on the hill that collapsed. This was after a little girl of six years helping her parents crush the rocks to sell to construction engineers died of an accident in the process.’ Explained, the Far North governor.

Governor Midjiyawa Bakary regrets that despite this injunction taken, the population violated it and still went on with the forbidden activity.

‘We reiterate to the population of Florina to stop this activity. It is very dangerous. Authorities have found them a settlement. We are looking for means to move them there.’ Governor Midjiyawa Bakary stated.

The chief executive officer for the F
ar North region reminded that the two women who were pulled out alive are responding to treatment in the Maroua regional hospital.

It should be recalled that a mass of earth from the hill, probably provoked by over exploitation of rocks and vibration from the crushing activity killed three women and a little girl.

Relatives of the deceased persons are inconsolable.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Recently, the Kashengeneck School, which was built by the Kambov Mining of CNMC, was officially handed over to the local government. The Kashengenek School is located in the village of Kashengenek, Kambowe Township, Likasi City, Upper Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The project was launched in October 2023.

Together with the construction party and the supervision party, Kambov Mining has attached great importance to the construction safety and quality in the process of implementation. With unremitting efforts of nearly 5 months, schools and villagers’ public wells were very well established.

The school has 6 classrooms with teaching facilities such as chairs. The administrative building has offices and conference rooms. Meanwhile, they are equipped with bathrooms, special wells and walls. Furthermore, the well has a complete water filtration system, two 5m3 water tanks, a set of solar panels, a solid steel derrick, and 5 faucets which could fully satisfy the water needs of villagers.

T
he completion of the two projects has provided better teaching conditions for the teachers and students, and also solved the problem of villagers traveling long distances to get water. The villagers’ lives are more convenient now and the water sources are cleaner.

At the completion celebration, Wang Shougao, chairman of the Kambov Mining of CNMC, said that the completion and delivery of the public well project for schools and villagers is a milestone in the company’s public welfare activities and a powerful witness to the friendship between China and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, condensing the deep friendship between the two peoples. He hoped that teachers, students and villagers would cherish the school and public wells, and wished villagers an improving life quality, and more children could go to school to receive education.

The Finance Minister of Upper Katanga John Muloba Kitonge has attended the handover ceremony of the school and highly praised the campus and public wells of high quality dona
ted by CNMC. He said that Kambov’s own development has provided more jobs for the community, and it has actively fulfilled its social responsibilities. The livelihood problems of many people in the community are solved and a win-win cooperation has been achieved. May Kambov be more harmonious with the community, and may the friendship between the two countries last forever.

Kambov Mining is a joint venture between CNMC and Gécamines SA. As a responsible enterprise, Kambov Mining has practiced the development concept of cooperation and win-win since its establishment in the construction of the ‘Belt and Road’ and actively fulfilled its social responsibilities. In 2023, the company’s five social responsibility projects have landed.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A member of the civil society in Buea South West region has raised concern on the timid registration of citizens on the electoral register, highlighting ‘lack of trust in the electoral system, lack of synergy between Elections Cameroon, ELECAM and civil society organizations.

He also higlighted the lack of public interest on mainstream media and reading culture, lack of capacity within the civil society on voter education and electoral processes and lack of national identity card due to cumbersome acquisition procedures and delay in production’.

Results of these findings revealed on May 2, 2024 in Buea, during the 2nd edition of the regional platform for permanent consultation between ELECAM and other stakeholders of the electoral process at local level, served as assignment to ELECAM to adopt fruitful strategies for improvement.

‘Some of the observations are challenges which we are going to reflect on and review our strategies’. Assured, Tambe Tiku, member of the ELECAM Board.

ELECAM South West said the
se strategies are gradually being implemented.

‘We have been advised to not only exploit WhatsApp or Facebook for sensitization but to take advantage of public activity areas where we can place out kits to have more and more Cameroonians register. So far we have registered 6,000 more voters compared to the previous registration. Thus a percentage rate of 200%.’ Tambe TIKU, member of the ELECAM Board revealed.

ELECAM has four months from now to mobilize the maximum of Cameroonians at local level to have this names on the electoral register.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Institutes under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) undertaking the ‘Seed for Resilience’ project, have engaged farmers to update and take feedback on indigenous leafy vegetables production meant to enhance healthy dietary eating.

The Crops Research Institute (CRI) and the Plant Genetic Resources Research Institute (PGRRI) are undertaking the project, which is aimed at ensuring that indigenous leafy vegetables are sustainably produced by farmers and made available to the public as part of efforts to ensure food security in the country.

The project is being funded by the Crop Trust.

Over the last two years, 20 assertions each of amaranth (Aleefu), Corchorus (Ayoyo) and Hibiscus (Sule) had been supplied by the CSIR-PGRRI to the CSIR-CRI to research and multiply them.

The selections are now being multiplied to be supplied back to the farmers for planting.

Dr. Daniel Ashie Kotey, Director of CSIR- PRRIG, at the Seed for Resilience germplasm user group feedback and Review workshop at F
umesua near Ejisu in the Ashanti Region, noted that, these vegetables were important and constituted essential sections in the diets of Ghanaians.

Farmers, agricultural officers and researchers drawn from Barekese and Boadi attended the workshop, which gave updates and the way forward of the project.

Indigenous leafy vegetables according to Dr Kotey, were important for combating climate change and promoting healthy diet, food and nutrition security in the country.

He said although they were essential in nutrients like iron, phosphorus, zinc and folic acid, the focus had always been on exotic vegetables with some people throwing away these vegetables in favour of the exotic vegetables.

This had been a great concern to the research institute because some of these crops (indigenous leafy vegetables) have developed their unique characteristics over a period and suited to Ghana’s agricultural system.

Dr. Kotey indicated that the diversity researchers were bringing and evaluating with the farmers contained use
ful genes that tolerated pests and diseases, saying farmers did not have to spray against these pests and diseases.

Dr. Patricia Pinamang Acheampong, Principal Research Scientist, CSIR-CRI, assured Ghanaians of researchers’ steadfast actions in making the diversity of useful indigenous leafy vegetables available to farmers for cultivation in a very sustainable manner to the benefit of themselves and the public.

She said these crops were very useful in combating many health challenges citing roselle, as one which had become popular for its use for the ‘Sobolo drink’.

Dr. Acheampong pointed out that, one main challenge by farmers in the peri-urban areas where these vegetables are mostly grown had been land acquisition.

According to her, these leafy vegetables were cultivated in lowlands and these same lands were being filled for building purposes, so it normally becomes impossible for continuous cropping in these areas.

Professor Moses Brandford Mochiah, Director, CSIR-CRI, called on the government and pol
icymakers to prioritize national funding for the PGRRI, which was dedicated to germplasm (genetic resources such as seeds, tissues and DNA sequences that were maintained for plant and animal breeding purposes, conservation and utilization goals.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Addis Ababa: Ethiopian Christians commemorated Good Friday (Siklet) with religious rituals today.

Since early morning, Christian faithful congregated in churches to observe Siklet, which marks the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross.

The day is being commemorated across Ethiopia Christian faithful with solemn prayers, readings, hymns, prostration, reflection and fasting, among others.

This commemoration of Siklet precedes the joyous celebration of Easter on Sunday, which signifies Christ’s resurrection and victory over death.

This Good Friday and the final Easter observances form pivotal moment for the Christians faith, rekindling optimism and redemption.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) Ladies Association (GRIDLASS) has donated some essential medical supplies to the Novati Catholic Hospital in Sogakope, in the Volta Region.

The items were medical consumables, clothing, bedding, sanitary pads, and other relevant supplies for the Maternal and Children’s wards.

Madam Azara Amadu, the President of the Association said that the donation was to support the health facility following the devastating flooding of GRIDCo’s 161kV substation and surrounding areas due to the spillage of the Akosombo Dam, last year.

She mentioned that the Association members, with support from GRIDCo’s Management, Staff, GRIDLASS Executive, were able to raise funds to procure the items.

Madam Amadu indicated that ‘the initiative did not only exemplify GRIDLASS’s commitment to GRIDCo’s core value of ‘CARE’ but also underscores their dedication to professionalism and societal well-being.’

Dr. Kwesi Djesi, the Clinical Coordinator of the Novati Catholic Hospital received the items and exp
ressed heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the entire hospital staff.

‘We’re very grateful for the donation we had from GRIDLASS. This showed that they’ve been thinking about the welfare of the people. The flood situations really had negative impacts on the facility and these items we received today would also help us to continue our work,’ he explained.

Dr. Djesi shared poignant accounts of the facility’s struggles in the aftermath of the floods, revealing that the hospital would have generated a little over GHC 1.3 million revenue in two months if the floods had not ravaged the facility.

He however appealed for continued support from corporate Ghana.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has organised the ‘Feast Ghana’ to commemorate this year’s May Day celebration in Accra.

The event, which was to give Ghanaian workers a treat of authentic Ghanaian food and entertainment, was organised in partnership with the Public Service Workers Union (PSWU) of the Trade Union Congress, the Queen Mothers Foundation and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture Feast Ghana, part of Ghana Cares Obaatanpa project, aimed at promoting Ghana’s local food and showcasing Ghana’s cultural diversity, and resuscitating the tourism and hospitality sector.

It was on the theme: ‘Flavours of Ghana, Celebrating Ghana’s Cultural Diversity through Food.’

Mr Akwasi Agyemang, Chief Executive Officer, GTA said ‘Feast Ghana’ was to display indigenous Ghanaian dishes and elevate Ghana’s special culinary, culture and tradition.

The initiative, he said, would help tourists appreciate Ghana’s cultural dimension by virtue of food, adding that it was also aligned to the ‘May day’ celebration in reco
gnition of the hard work of all sector players.

Mr Agyemang appealed to Ghanaians to embrace and support the ‘Feast Ghana’ campaign to promote Ghana’s locally made food, cultural heritage and tradition.

Mr Jones Aruna Nelson, Director, Corporate Affairs, GTA, indicated that ‘Feast Ghana’ was a unique opportunity to promote Ghanaian foods, traditional dressing, dance and language.

He said the event plays a significant role in educating Ghanaians to patronise locally made foods.

‘We will continue to elevate ‘Feast Ghana’ to promote culinary diversity for Ghanaians to understand the health benefits of eating locally made foods because it contains good nutrients for the body,’ he added.

The event showcased Ghana’s local foods, emphasising unity, diversity and the vibrant spirit of Ghanaians.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Keta Presbytery of the Global Evangelical Church (GEC) has called on President Akufo-Addo to ignore any lawsuit and assent to recently passed anti-LGBTQ Bill into law to reflect Ghana’s values.

The President had in a letter to the Clerk to Parliament on March 18, 2024, indicated that he would refrain from giving his assent, attributing his decision to court cases against the bill.

The bill, Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill which was unanimously passed by Parliament on February 28, 2024, after years of deliberation, proposes a three-to-five-year jail term for individuals who promote or sponsor LGBTQ activities, while those caught in the act are to be sentenced to a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of three years.

But leadership of the Keta Presbytery of GEC said despite the pending lawsuits seeking to restrain the President from assenting to the bill, his assent was important and must be immediate.

This was in a communiqué the Presbytery issued at its just-ended Presbytery Represen
tatives Conference held at GEC, Gloryland Chapel, Anloga with delegates drawn from twenty districts and parishes, including ministries and groups, made available to Ghana News Agency.

‘We are calling on the President of the Republic to assent the Anti-LGBTQIA+ Bill passed recently by the Parliament of Ghana into law with immediate effect. The voices of the masses cannot be underestimated all in the name of lawsuits against the bill.

Ghana is bigger than any individual and so the need of the country must be of utmost priority. Our moral values, societal laws, Christian and other religious beliefs and values are all against the movement and lifestyle of LGBTQIA+.’

It craved the indulgence of all victims and practitioners of LGBTQ+ to seek counseling and rehabilitation to maintain the ‘right human sexual standards for themselves and for the good of society.’

Touching on other national issues, it thanked God for His continued leadership, protection and preservation of the lives of citizens while commending th
e government for keeping its promise to protect the lives of the citizenry by fighting against extremism and terrorism saying, more needed to be done to safeguard the country’s peace.

‘While we commend the Government for its efforts at securing our borders as a country, we wish to urge the Government to pay attention to the needs of the citizenry.

The grievances of the citizens, including teachers, and other workers must be given the needed attention to arrest all forms of apprehension against the Government that would disturb the peace.’

The communiqué called on government to direct its efforts at reviewing the Free SHS Policy, focusing on providing infrastructure and other needs of schools, while urging the Electoral Commission to deliver on its mandate without compromise in the upcoming elections with a call on all political parties to demonstrate the spirit of patriotism in handling matters.

The Conference was also concerned about the protection and preservation of the destiny of the youth and asked c
hiefs and community leaders to take steps to arrest societal ills, charged citizens to plant more trees to help reverse the rapid change in climatic conditions, and called on Christian leaders to lead exemplary lives to benefit humanity.

Source: Ghana News Agency

CAMFED Ghana, a non-governmental organisation, is set to recruit and train 160 women under its ‘Agriculture Guide Programme’ to promote climate-smart agriculture.

The initiative aims to help women establish and run sustainable agribusinesses and also seeks to ‘build community resilience and ensure food security in the face of climate change.’

Under the programme, each of the trainees known as ‘Agriculture Guides’ will train 10 more women on ‘Climate-Smart Agriculture’ (CSA) practices, especially in rural communities.

The CSA is ‘a set of agricultural practices and technologies which simultaneously boost productivity, enhance resilience, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.’

It includes the adoption of climate-resilient crop varieties, agriculture conservation techniques, agroforestry, water management, and improved livestock management.

Speaking at the launch in Accra, Ms Fairuza Safian, National Director, CAMFED Ghana, said the programme was part of CAMFED’s contribution to solving the challenge of cli
mate change in the agriculture sector.

She described the plan as an opportunity for beneficiaries to ‘develop sound climate practices, make connections, and access equipment needed for agriculture success.’

Ms Safian said ‘a technical working group’ was constituted to design the curriculum to guide beneficiaries and sensitise them on climate-smart agriculture.

‘…While contributing to addressing the climate challenge, the programme will also contribute to food security and position a core of young women to take up dignified and fulfilling careers in agriculture, agribusiness and agro-processing,’ she stated.

The National Director said CAMFED would always support the government to achieve its policy goals in various sectors, as it worked to ensure that ‘children are provided resources for their education.’

In a speech read on his behalf, the Assistant Director of Crop Services, Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), stressed the importance of adopting solutions that ‘protect and build resilience’ in the
sector.

He said the Agriculture Guide Programme by CAMFED was in line with the Ministry’s vision of tackling the effects of climate change in the sector, and highlighted some government initiatives meant to ensure agriculture productivity.

Mr George Yaw Adorshie, Head of Communication and Strategic Partnership, CAMFED, explained the organisation’s new strategic plan from 2024 to 2029, which included providing support for five million girls to access and progress through secondary schools in the five African countries in which CAMFED operates.

He said the organisation intended to enhance its achievements and expand operations to four other regions in Ghana.

Ms Paulina Addy, Director of Women in Agricultural Development (WIAD), at MoFa, highlighted the effects of climate on Agriculture and urged various partners to ensure the success of the Agriculture Guide Programme.

The technical committee for the development of the Agriculture Guide included representatives of universities, research institutions, and e
ntrepreneurs supported by CAMFED the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the National Service Scheme.

Mr Christain Zico Agbebo, Programmes Manager, CAMFED, said apart from the first batch of 160 trainees, the programme would recruit National Service persons and other females interested in agriculture.

Source: Ghana News Agency