Day: October 1, 2023

Ghana will from October 5 to 9, 2023, host 200 researchers from across the world for the annual meeting of the environment and development initiative.

The conference is aimed at discussing research and how it could contribute to policies for global and national sustainable development.

It would be hosted by Environment for Development (EfD) Ghana in collaboration with the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana, and School of Research and Graduate Studies, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).

The week-long conference would be preceded with a Policy Day on October 4, 2023, where the challenges and prospects of sustainable fisheries management in Ghana would be the focus.

Speaking ahead of the event, Professor Wisdom Akpalu, Director of EfD Ghana, said: ‘We look forward to welcoming the participants and hope to achieve a successful meeting and a memorable experience in Ghana for the participants.’

On his part, Prof Peter Quartey, Director, ISSER, said: ‘These high-level convenings and networks provide an opportunity for us to engage with others and demonstrate our unwavering efforts to promote research-led knowledge and collaborations for national and global development.’

EfD Ghana was established in 2019 and is one of EfD’s 13 International centres, promoting sustainable management of natural resources through policy-relevant research, policy engagement, and capacity development.

The organisation focuses its research on coastal and mineral resource management, the extractive industry, energy resources management, climate change and green growth.

These efforts are aimed at building human and institutional capacities, while connecting science and policymaking to develop solutions for a sustainable future with reduced poverty and increased equality.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Rev. Mrs. Patricia Akpene Tegbe-Agbo, the National Coordinator of the Women’s Ministry of the Global Evangelical Church (GEC), has appealed to women, especially those in the church, to be intentional in upgrading themselves to become more resourceful not only to their families but to society as well.

She said the era when women sat aloof and expected all their supplies from their male counterparts was long gone, adding that, ‘now men are more enthused about women who can support them in some way no matter how small.’

Rev. Mrs. Tegbe-Agbo was speaking at a four-day rally organised by the Tamale Presbytery Women’s Ministry of the Church on the theme: ‘The Woman who Pursues Righteousness.’

The 2023 Rally was held at the GEC Triumphant Chapel, Tamale Central.

The Women’s National Coordinator said women must personally build their own capacities since God had already given them the creative ability to do so.

‘To build our capacities as women does not necessarily mean all of us going to school. It simply means each and every one of us must find something lucrative to do and ensure that, we are best in what we do’, she said.

Rev. Mrs. Tegbe-Agbo cautioned the women, especially those in the informal jobs not to despise what they do.

Often, some people look down on what they do and try to compare their jobs with that of others. Beloved, that is a deception from the pit of hell. Let us appreciate the fact that, whatever work our hands find to do is a special ministry given to us by God.

We therefore need to attach all the seriousness that it deserves to it. God can bless your pure water selling business and out of it, you can send your children to school and put a roof over your head provided you put in your very best, she concluded.

Rev. Wisdom Adegle, the Tamale Presbytery Chairman, speaking on the theme, said the call to holiness must penetrate every area of the women’s lives and not only by paying lip service to it.

He charged the Global Women to lead the crusade in holy living so as to change the negative narrative in the perverse world in which they find themselves.

Mrs. Grace Akortsu, the Tamale Presbytery Women’s Ministry Leader, on behalf of the leadership welcomed all the participants.

She challenged them to live all what they have been taught in practical terms, adding that, the subject of holy living was not meant for only pastors and leaders but everybody.

The 2023 Rally exposed the Tamale Presbytery Women to Spiritual empowerment, economic and family life training as well as health education among others.

Dignitaries who witnessed the Rally included Ms. Bushira Alhassan, Northern Regional Director for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Lady Ps. Dr. Mrs. Priscilla Alhassan a Medical Director/Associate Pastor, Mr. Noble Dormenu and Dr. (MH)Mrs Eunice Addae Azawutor, the Tamale Presbytery Male and Female Presbyters on the Synod Committee respectively among others. There were also solidarity messages from the Women’s Fellowship of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Women’s Fellowship.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Development Bank Group have concluded consultations for the mid-term assessment of the West Africa Regional Integration Strategy Paper (RISP) 2020-2025.

The Bank Group approved the West Africa RISP 2020-2025 in May 2020 to support regional integration efforts in West Africa.

With an initial indicative investment plan of $4.52 billion, the West African RISP focuses on improving resilient infrastructure and supporting the development of regional businesses.

A statement issued in Accra said the meetings took place from September 5 to September 15, 2023, at the Headquarters of the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, Nigeria.

During the period, the two sides assessed the key midterm results alongside a performance review of the Bank’s regional portfolio.

It said the evaluation focused on current issues around West African integration: challenges, opportunities, and prospects.

It also reviewed the Bank’s strategic direction and priority intervention areas, priority projects common to the two institutions and the state of their cooperation.

The statement said it also assessed the state of collaboration between the Bank and ECOWAS and it fostered a consensus on the outlook, direction, and areas of intervention within the framework of the Bank’s future priority projects.

Other pertinent issues, including economic affairs and agriculture, human development and social affairs, infrastructure, energy and digitalisation, political issues, peace and security, transport, and information and communication technologies, were also discussed.

Mr Lamin G. Barrow, Director General of the Nigeria Country Department, who led the Bank delegation, underscored the growing partnership between ECOWAS Commission, the Bank, and the regional institutions in the midterm assessment.

He said, ‘After three years of implementing our regional strategy in a context marked by a series of shocks, health, security, socio-political, climate, environmental, food insecurity risks and a wave of unconstitutional power change, there was a need to take stock, draw lessons and propose corrective measures for immediate implementation over the remaining two years, that is, from 2024 to 2025.’

Mr Omar Alieu Touray, ECOWAS Commission President said, ‘For regional integration institutions like ECOWAS, cooperation with the African Development Bank is essential, and implementation of the RISP is at the heart of our mandate.’

He said that was ‘why our must seize this opportunity to interact and chart the way forward for our two institutions. This means consolidating gains and repositioning our activities and institutions to achieve tangible results. The challenges ahead are colossal.’

During the mission, the Bank Group delegation discussed the Bank Group’s Strategy for addressing Fragility and Building Resilience in Africa (2022-2026).

The Bank Group also presented an overview of the ‘Security-indexed Investment Bonds’ at the meeting.

The studies for the Abidjan-Lagos highway project were reviewed during the portfolio evaluation and this paves the way for the construction to start in early 2024 of a 1028-kilometre highway linking Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria.

Under its Regional Integration Strategy Paper, the Bank has mobilized $884.14 million since 2020, covering 70 new operations, almost double the 38 projects planned initially.

The projects include the Rosso Bridge between Senegal and Mauritania; the Trans-Gambia Corridor with the bridge over the Gambia River between Senegal and Gambia; the Niger-Algeria Trans-African Highway Project; phase 2 of the Lomé-Cotonou Highway Refurbishment Project; the Mano River Transport Development and Facilitation Project, etc.

Mr Youssouf Kone, Principal Regional Integration Coordinator for Central and West Africa and Mr Ometere Omoluabi Davies, Principal Regional Integration Coordinator for the Nigeria Country Department presented the implementation status of the various projects, lessons learned and recommendations.

Topics covered included innovation in co-financing methods and resource mobilization, refining responses to fragility and strengthening the public’s resilience, reinforcing project implementation units.

Ms Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbadé, the Bank’s Vice-President in charge of Regional Development, Integration and Service Delivery, said, ‘The Bank Group would continue to provide decisive support to Member States and the ECOWAS Commission under the High-5 priority of ‘Integrate Africa.’

She called for the Bank’s interventions in the most vulnerable segments of the population, including young people and women, to provide them with economic opportunities while strengthening institutional governance, the resilience of the public and addressing the causes and effects of regional instability.

‘Without stability and peace, there can be no development and no regional integration,’ she said.

Other members of the Bank delegation were Mr Joseph M. Ribeiro, Acting Director General of West Africa; Mr Jean-Guy Afrika, Acting Director of the Regional Integration Coordination Office; Mr Yero-Baldeh, Director of the Transition States Coordination Office; and Mr Bruno Boedts, implementation support Manager for regional operations.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Podium Alimentos, the creator and manager of Brazil’s International Cassava Fair, FIMAN, has announced a five-year partnership with Ghana’s Agrihouse Foundation, as its official franchise holders, for the promotion, facilitation and marketing of the annual fair in Ghana.

In a statement issued by Podium Alimentos, Mr. Mauricio Gehlen, its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) expressed his excitement for the partnership with Agrihouse Foundation.

He emphasized that, the partnership with Agrihouse Foundation as the official franchise holder for FIMAN in Ghana, for the next five years will undoubtedly elevate and significantly enhance the program’s growth and increase participation in Ghana and Africa.

Mr. Gehlen added that Agrihouse Foundation has a commendable track record of consistently demonstrating unwavering dedication to sustainable agriculture and a proven history of promoting the agriculture industry in Ghana and beyond.

He explained that, Agrihouse Foundation will work with his office, to strengthen and enhance the prominence and impact of the FIMAN initiative in Ghana, with a primary focus on contributing to improving the cassava value chain, adding, ‘Cassava contributes significantly to the nutrition and livelihood of up to 500 million people in the world; beside serving as a primary staple food for millions of people, cassava is also an important raw material used for pharmaceutical and industrial purposes.’

Commodifying cassava presents Africa and the global community with an opportunity to reduce dependence on imports, enhance food security, and support economic growth.

Despite its immense potential, cassava has, often to a high level, been overlooked as a crop suitable for commercial production and commodification.

However, as global food demand continues to rise, the potential for cassava to contribute to agricultural growth in Africa and around the world is becoming increasingly apparent.

Mr. Mauricio Gehlen, emphasized that, the partnership will also facilitate the dissemination of global cassava research findings, innovations, and best practices to the Ghanaian cassava industry, fostering growth and sustainability.

This collaboration he said, signifies a great milestone in our efforts to foster greater international cooperation and knowledge exchange in the cassava industry.

For her part, the Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Miss Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa expressed her profound gratitude for this partnership.

‘We are very excited and grateful to Podium Alimentos for giving us this amazing opportunity to do what we do best – Making Impact in the Agribusiness sector.’

As the official franchise holder in Ghana, we look forward to working diligently transparently with Podium Alimentos to ensure the continued success of the International Cassava Fair, FIMAN, and to advance sustainable agriculture while strengthening the cassava industry.

‘It is imperative that we transform cassava into a standardized commodity that can be traded and exported on a large scale to boost national revenues, much like how we prioritize commodities such as gold, crude oil, and cocoa,’ Miss Akosa emphasised.

As the official franchise holder in Ghana, Agrihouse Foundation is resolutely committed to cultivating a thriving cassava sector in Ghana and Africa. Simultaneously, we aim to work together, to foster greater international collaboration by connecting Ghanaian enterprises with potential investors and partners, who seek to penetrate the Ghanaian market, to explore partnerships and investment opportunities, with the cassava value chain, to collectively improve impact, economic growth, improve job creation and the introduction of new technologies to the sector.

As part our mandate of ensuring a stronger Ghanaian representation at the International Cassava Fair scheduled to take place from Tuesday, November 21, to Thursday, November 23 2023, in Paranavaí, Brazil, Agrihouse foundation is mobilizing farmers, processors, input dealers, Farmer-Based Organizations (FBOs), Aggregators, and value chain actors, individuals and businesses across the agriculture value chain to serve as exhibitors, participate and engage in Business Matchmaking sessions at the fair.

By facilitating the transfer of knowledge and championing the global dissemination of cassava research, innovations, and best practices from international experts to the Ghanaian cassava community, Agrihouse Foundation will work together with Poduim Alimentos to organize and facilitate strategic business-to-business meetings, networking, matchmaking, panel discussions, educational tours and farm visits for participants in Brazil.

‘This exchange of expertise, we are confident, will further empower our stakeholders to be exposed to more innovative approaches and state-of-the-art technologies, leading to increased productivity and efficiency.

‘Agrihouse Foundation is passionate towards the causes and tasks, we take up and we are positive to contribute in all means possible, to the growth of the Casssava value chain sector. Cassava is the next big thing. It is the next Cocoa,’ Alberta added.

This collaboration underscores Podium Alimentos and Agrihouse Foundation’s steadfast commitment to advancing the cassava sector and promoting international cooperation within the Regional and Global agricultural landscape.

Over the next five years, the focus will be on propelling growth, sustainability, and innovation within the industry.

Agrihouse Foundation has a successful track record of spearheading similar International Trade and market linkage initiatives.

Its partnership with the Brazilian Embassy over the past ten years in promoting the annual Agrishow event in Brazil. Our partnership with the Israel Trade Office, in promoting educational Break-out Tours and Agritech in Israel, our partnership with the US- Ghana Chamber, Philadelphia, in promoting Trade and market linkages and our strong partnership with GhaNeb – Nebraska, in facilitating opportunities between Nebraska, among others, are testaments of our passion and strength in fostering and facilitating, successful Business, Trade and Investment opportunities between Countries.

Agrihouse Foundation are also the initiators and implementers of highly successful interventional projects in Ghana including the Gathering of the Royals, the Agric Students Career Guidance and Mentorship Dialogue Bootcamp, the Livestock, Poultry and Fisheries Training and Tradeshow, the Women in Food and Agricultural Leadership Training Forum, the Gold in the Soil Awards, organized together with Global Affairs Canada.

Agrihouse Foundation are also the initiators and organizers of the Monthly Agriwoman Marketplace, the Monthly Beginner Agribusiness Masterclass and the internationally recognized 1household – 1 garden initiative and the annual Preharvest Agribusiness Exhibitions and Conference.

ABOUT FIMAN:

The International Cassava Fair, FIMAN, organized by Podium Alimentos is a globally recognized premier cassava tradeshow. It serves as a pivotal platform for knowledge exchange, innovation showcase, and networking among cassava stakeholders worldwide.

The three-day event will focus on the exchange of experiences, staying at the forefront of cutting-edge technologies, and forging successful partnerships. It will feature a dedicated Ghanaian Pavilion where key players in the cassava value chain can showcase their products and services, engage in B2B matchmaking, and make business presentations.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mrs Theresa Kufuor, a former first lady in the Fourth Republic of Ghana, has reportedly died, aged 87.

Credible sources from the family and the presidency confirmed her demise to the Ghana News Agency on Sunday evening.

She died around 1600 hours, the sources said.

She has predeceased her husband, John Agyekum Kufuor, the second President of the Fourth Republic, with whom she had five children.

Mrs Kufuor, admired by many as a quiet exquisite lady, was seen as a strong pillar behind her husband’s successful political career and presidency from 2001-2008.

She founded the Mother and Child Community Development Foundation (MCCDF) and awarded the Papal Award Dame of St Gregory the Great for her commitment to the plight of poor children and their mothers by the Catholic Church.

Mrs Kufuor married the Former President when he was 23 after they met at a Republic Day Anniversary Dance in London in 1961 and got married in 1962.

She was born on 25 October 1935 and was a devout Catholic.

Mrs. Kufuor lived most of her working life in the United Kingdom after studying at the Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford and Paddington General Hospital, London, and qualifying as a State Certified Midwife with a Certificate in Premature Nursing.

Before marrying President Kufour, she was known as Theresa Mensah and was the last born to her parents.

Her elder brother was the late NPP stalwart, J.H. Mensah.

Mrs Kufuor started her education at the Catholic Convent in Keta in the Volta Region.

In 2007, she pushed for policy changes in the Government’s white paper on Educational Reforms toward the implementation of UNESCO’s Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) programme.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Protecting the dignity and human rights of older persons, and addressing the challenges they face in society will ultimately benefit all of humanity, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said.

The global community is observing the UN International Day of Older Persons today under the theme “Fulfilling the Promises of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for Older Persons: Across Generations.”

Observed annually on 1 October, the Day aims to raise awareness of the challenges and issues faced by older persons worldwide.

The day also seeks to promote the importance of respecting and caring for older persons and to highlight their significant contribution to society.

In a message commemorating Sunday’s International Day of Older Persons, UN Secretary-General António Guterres underscored the pervasive issue of ageism in society and the vulnerability of older persons in the face of crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, poverty and climate emergencies.

“Addressing these and other issues is a human rights imperative that will benefit everyone,” he said.

Studies show that number of people aged 65 years or older worldwide is projected to more than double – rising from 761 million in 2021 to 1.6 billion in 2050 – with the number of people aged 80 years or older growing even faster.

This further underscores the urgency of strengthening the protection of the human rights of current and future generations of older persons around the world.

Guterres highlighted that older persons can make significant contributions in terms of their knowledge and experience, and have the potential to contribute to peace, sustainable development and the protection of the environment.

“We must ensure their active engagement, full participation, and essential contributions – including through social and workplace policies built around their specific needs,” he said.

He also emphasized the need for intergenerational dialogue and unity as vital components of building more inclusive and age-friendly societies and a resilient world for everyone.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

A new global framework to reduce environmental risks from chemicals and waste was adopted at a UN conference on Saturday, with countries committing to phase out the most harmful ones.

Agreed at the fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5), in Bonn, Germany, the Global Framework on Chemicals sets concrete targets and guidelines across the lifecycle of chemicals.

Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), said “Everyone on this planet should be able to live and work without fear of falling sick or dying from chemical exposure. Nature, free from pollution, should be able to thrive and support humanity for millennia to come.”

The framework provides a vision for a planet free of harm from chemicals and waste, for a safe, healthy and sustainable, the Directors stated.

The framework is based around 28 targets, designed to improve responsible management of chemicals and waste.

These targets also aim to establish stronger connections with other important global agendas, including climate change, biodiversity, human rights and health.

Governments have committed to setting up policies and regulations aimed at reducing chemical pollution by 2030 as well as promoting safer alternatives.

Industries also pledged to managing chemicals in a manner that reduces pollution and its adverse impacts, according to UN News.

In addition to the Global Framework, the Conference also adopted the Bonn Declaration.

The Declaration aims to “prevent exposure to harmful chemicals, and phase out the most harmful ones, where appropriate, and enhance the safe management of such chemicals where they are needed.”

It also encourages countries to support the transition to circular economies, fostering the development of safe alternatives and substitutes for chemicals.

This approach aims to not only safeguard health and the environment but also reduce waste and enhance recycling efforts.

The Executive Director of UNEP urged all parties to start acting immediately.

“The World Health Organization (WHO) tells us that direct chemical pollution of the air, land, water and workplace is causing two million deaths per year,” she said.

“I call on governments, the chemicals industry and everyone involved to go above and beyond what has been agreed to protect people and the planet upon which we all depend.”

Source: Ethiopian News Agency