Day: June 11, 2022

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North Gonja District Goes Green As DCE Leads The Green Ghana Day In Daboya

The North Gonja District is endowed with a rich forest reserve that constitutes part of the Mole National Park. Wildlife resources have been especially important for the livelihood of people in rural areas.

However in the process of utilizing these resources to meet a range of socio-economic needs the wildlife resources of the District have been severely depleted.

According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), between 1990 and 2020, the World lost some One Hundred and Seventy-Eight Million hectares (178,000,000ha) of forests, almost the size of Libya.

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo on Tuesday, Ist March 2022, launched the 2022 edition of “Green Ghana Day”, with a commitment to planting some Twenty Million Trees (20,000,000) this year as part of the Government’s aggressive afforestation and reforestation program.

At Daboya in the North Gonja District of the Savannah Region, Chief Executive Officer Hon Adam Eliasu Red Bawa marked the day with a key stakeholder engagement and public forum at conference hall of the North Gonja Assembly Complex. The DCE explained and stressed on the need to support the government’s afforestation and reforestation program through planting trees.

The exercise went practical when Hon Red Bawa planted tree seedlings on some designated points in the locality and tasked stakeholders, students, and the general public to replicate the same in their homes, workplaces, open environments, farm lands and so on.

The project is been spearheaded by the Ministry for Lands and Natural Resources led by the enigmatic Hon Lawyer Samuel Abu Jinapor, sector Minister and MP for Damongo Constituency. The country’s forests are one of the most important Natural resources required for our socio-economic development, regrettably across the world, the exploitation of forest resources has been very rampant, leading to substantial decline in the world’s forest cover.

Source: Modern Ghana

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Ahafo Region: Newmont security guards shoot and kill one, three others injured

One person is feared dead while three others sustained injuries after Newmont Ghana security guards shot at them at Ntotroso in the Asutifi North District of the Ahafo Region.

They are reported to have entered a mining concession site at Kampisigo, owned by the Newmont, a gold mining firm, at Ntotroso on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, in the evening to undertake illegal mining.

The four, according to the report, hail from Hwediem in the Asutifi North District of the Ahafo Region.

The name of the missing person was given as Emmanuel Kwabena Atikum.

Ibrahim Godfather, resident of Hwediem in an interview with Otec News on Friday, June 12, 2022, said during the shooting, two managed to escape to the town but two left behind.

“The four persons entered the camp to do ‘galamsey’ in that night, course of their activities they were shot by the guards and they all fled. During the pursuit, two escaped and two were trapped,” he said.

“One of the two persons who were left behind came home with bruises on his body came home on Wednesday, saying he suspected that the other person has been shot dead,” he added.

The youth at Hwediem upon hearing the news stormed the Ntotroso Police Station on Thursday to seek their help to find their folk, but the police declined.

The disappointed youth also had their petition to the District Chief Executive for the area to assist them turned down, a situation that has incensed them to face the management of Newmont Ghana to rescue the other one; dead or alive.

It took the timely intervention of the Omanhene of Hwediem Traditional Area, Osuodumgya Barima Appia-DwaBoafo II to calm them down, with the promise of assisting them.

Source: Modern Ghana

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NPP’s ambition to break the 8 is neither here nor there – Benjamin Kumbuor

A former Minister for Defence, Dr. Benjamin Kumbuor has insisted that the ambition of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to break the eight (8) years cycle in government is neither here nor there.

The elephant party in the past year has been drumming home the desire to stay in power beyond the two-term of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Although the NPP government has been tipped by multiple surveys to lose the next general election, the party says it is confident of breaking the eight.

Speaking to TV3 on the Key Points programme on Saturday, June 11, 2022, former NDC MP Dr. Benjamin Kumbuor noted that the aim of the NPP is irrelevant. According to him, the priority should be on breaking the bad nuts in the country’s democracy and not how long a party stays in power.

“Of course, [the NDC will stop the NPP from breaking the 8. That is their wish and nobody can take their wish away from them.

“As for breaking the 8 in terms of the election and government cycle, it is neither here nor there,” Dr. Benjamin Kumbuor said.

Insisting that breaking the 8 is a misplaced priority, the former Minister of Defence added that very soon parties will even struggle to retain power after four years.

“A time will come that a political party will not even get to eight years for any 8 to be broken. The 2020 election is there to guide us. Let people try to break the 8 but there are more fundamental things for us to break in our democracy,” Dr. Benjamin Kumbuor emphasised.

Source: Modern Ghana

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Von der Leyen meets Zelensky to discuss Ukraine EU membership bid

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen visited Ukraine on Saturday for discussions with President Volodymyr Zelensky about his country’s bid to join the continental bloc.

Kyiv has been pushing for rapid admission to the European Union.

Officials have, however, cautioned that the road to membership is a long one, which can take decades.

Ukraine sees the prospect of joining the EU as a way of reducing its geopolitical vulnerability, which has been exposed by Russia’s invasion.

“With President Zelensky I will take stock of the joint work needed for reconstruction and of the progress made by Ukraine on its European path,” von der Leyen tweeted on arrival in Kyiv.

She told journalists that the discussions “will feed into our assessment” of Ukraine’s readiness to be considered a candidate country to begin lengthy negotiations, including needed reforms.

That assessment by her commission will be presented soon, she said, without given any timeframe.

EU commissioners and officials are expected to examine Ukraine’s bid next week, ahead of a summit later this month.

Von der Leyen’s trip to Kyiv is her second since the Russian invasion in February.

On her last visit von der Leyen said “Ukraine belongs to the European family”.

However some EU countries have expressed wariness about giving Ukraine a speeded-up candidacy process.

They point to Ukraine’s problems with corruption, and the fact that countries such as North Macedonia and Albania are already further along the candidacy path.

The European Union is helping channel weapons to Ukraine through a two-billion-euro fund and has given Kyiv more than 700 million euros in aid since the invasion.

Europe has also imposed six rounds of sanctions on Russia, notably hitting coal and oil exports.

EU countries are hosting nearly five million Ukrainian refugees.

Source: Modern Ghana

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Green Ghana: Executive Director of NACPaCC advocates for Communitywatchdog to sustain the project

Yesterday 10th June 2022 has been set aside by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to plant about 20,000 trees across the length and breadth of the country.

On the issue of sustainability of the trees after the usual mass planting at communities and public places, section of the Ghanaian public and some Civil Society groups have called for more engagement to help sustain the plants.

Addressing Journalists in Tamale as part of the Green Ghana day activities, the Executive Director of Northern Advocacy Centre for Peace and Climate Change (NACPaCC), Mr. Mahama Saani Zulkiflu lauded the Green Ghana project, indicating that it would help make Ghana Green again.

According to him, the survival of the noble project will need the full participation of the general public.

“If you want any project to succeed, there must be a lot of participation, the people around must be seen participating, so by the end of the day, the people themselves will protect and own the project, but if you come with your people from somewhere, I will sit-down looking at it, whatever happens to the said project wouldn’t be my business or the problem of the community, so am appealing to the Forestry Commission to intensify public education for the public to understand why they should take the Green Ghana project serious”.

He appealed to the relevant stakeholders that matters in the Green Ghana project to directly involve community members in their activities.

Mr. Mahama urged the forestry commission to form a ‘Community Green Watchdog’ at the various communities for them to be responsible for the trees after the ceremonial planting.

These, he believed will sustain the Green Ghana project across the country.

According to him, his outfit had planted hundreds of trees at the Kunyavilla and some Communities in the past.

Mr. Mahama further called on the public to visit the offices of the Northern Advocacy Centre for Peace and Climate Change and the Forestry Commission in Tamale for free seedlings or plants.

Source: Modern Ghana

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National Cathedral: Akuffo-Addo is insensitive to the plight of Ghanaians – Bright Botchway

The central regional deputy Youth organiser for the Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC)Mr Bright Botchway has described the ruling government led by President Akuffo-Addo as the most insensitive administration in the political history of Ghana.

According to him, the president breaking all odds to build cathedral for the country is entirely needless while the citizens are wallowing in hardship.

He reiterated that, the development under the very watch of the heartless Akuffo-Addo and his inept government has given birth to untold Hardship in the country.

” Instead of using such huge money allocated for the building of the supposed National Cathedral to help with the construction of roads, schools and hospitals in the country , he rather see such uncalculated move as a means of rescuing the country which is inimical to the progress of Ghana”

He further said, President Akuffo-Addo who is so bent in constructing a cathedral for mother Ghana is utterly a slap in the face of suffering Ghanaians.

Mr Botchway apostrophed that, the misuse of scarce resources on the avoidable creature comforts of the president must be condemned because it is an unpardonable show of disrespect and insensitivity to the predicament of the suffering masses to build cathedral.

‘Using such huge money which alone Constituted an unconscionable waste of the country’s money which could be channelled to change lives through creation of jobs”

He added that, the resources entrusted into the hands of President Akuffo-Addo must be used judiciously for the public good, not for the excessive comfort of Nana Addo and his cabals”

If the building of the cathedral is avoided, paramount money could be saved to address some of the pressing issues in the country.

He explained” Country like Cote D’voire spent close to 600$Million to build the Basilica Our Lady of Peace Catholic church which is a minor basilica built and dedicated to Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, the administrative of capital of Côte d’Ivoire. , even after building this in cote d’voire Civil War erupted thus it is not about the cathedral that President Akuffo-Addo will build which will speed up the economy fortunes of the country but rather we need Good managers to steer the affairs of this country and not cathedral builders”

He cleared the doubts that,Ghanaians should know that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is not against the building of the Cathedral but rather against the illegality perpetuated by the government in procurement and the u turn of the president by using state funds to to erect to his own political promise to God is very preposterous.

“Ivory coast spent close to $600million to build the basilica and that triggered a lot of tension in the country due to hardships and unemployment in the country push them into civil war”

The made these pressing comments at winneba during the Constituency Anniversary celebration of the 30 years of the great NDC party.

He also touted the achievements of the since it’s inception saying numerous infrastructure facilities and developments in the country are the handiwork of the NDC.

Party stalwarts present were the former member of Parliament for Effutu Constituency who was also the Former Minister of works and housing during NDC Era, Hon Mike Ellen Hammer , Dr James Kofi Annan 2020 parliamentary candidate and other Dignitaries including Constituency executives and cadres.

Source: Modern Ghana

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Green Ghana Day: Obuasi Municipal Assembly To Grow More Trees To Combact Climate Change

The Obuasi Municipal Assembly (OMA) has indicated that it will soon roll up a program to grow more grasses and trees in open spaces within the Municipality. This according to the MCE Honorable Elijah Adansi-Bonah will complement the Government’s Green Ghana Agenda.

Speaking with the media at the Launch of the Green Ghana Day in Obuasi, the Obuasi MCE said the Assembly will work with the Obuasi office of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture ( MOFA) as well as the Physical planning department to identify open spaces in the Municipality to grow grasses and plant trees. This is intended to make Obuasi greener and mitigate the effects of climate change.

Introduced in 2021, the Green Ghana initiative seeks to create enhanced national awareness of the necessity for collective action towards restoration of degraded landscape in the country and inculcate in youth the value of planting and nurturing trees and their associated benefits.

The theme for this year’s edition was “Mobilizing for a Greener Future.”

Touching on the importance of the program to the people of Obuasi, Honorable Adansi-Bonah said Obuasi as a mining town has witnessed portions of its green vegetation depleted as a result of legal and illegal mining activities .

“Due to this, a conscious effort was needed to be taken to reduce if not to stop it hence we deem the introduction of the Green Ghana Day by the Government as a timely intervention.”.

He assured that this year’s celebration will not be business as usual but the Assembly has put in place concrete measures to ensure that seedlings planted are nurtured so that they reach maturity.

The Obuasi MCE also lifted the lid on plans by the Assembly to deal with those who indulge in indiscriminate cutting of trees. He said the Assembly is in the process of reviewing its bye-laws and would consider introducing punitive action against those who destroy the vegetation cover, in its bye-laws.

The Senior Manager Sustainability, Anglogold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine Emmanuel Baidoo said the company in support of the Green Ghana initiative by the Government will grow 1000 trees every year.

” AGA together with AGA Malaria Control and other stakeholders in the communities is committed to plant 1000 trees every year. This year, we are aiming to scale it up to 2000. We will make sure the trees that are planted are well nurtured and end up being developed to contribute to the diversity we all anticipate “

Henry Yeboah, the Supervisor of the Obuasi office of the Forestry commission said due to the successful implementation of the program last year, Government decided to increase the seedlings from 5 million to 20 million.

He gave the seedlings planted in Obuasi in 2021, a 70% survival rate and promised to continue to monitor those that are given out this year.

He reiterated that Obuasi has been given 19,000 seedlings to be given out freely to individuals, Churches and organizations. He further advised beneficiaries to maintain and protect them.

OBUASI MCE DONATES 700 COCONUT SEEDLINGS TO 21 FARMERS

In a related development, Hon ElijahAdansi-Bonah has distributed 700 coconut seedlings to 21 farmers in the Obuasi Municipality. This was after the Mce donated 1000 coconut seedlings to some farmers in the Municipality about a month ago.

The donation forms part of the Government’s Planting for Export and Rural Development Program.

Nananom, Assembly Members and Heads of Department were all present.

Source: Modern Ghana

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Obuasi East To Grow 16,000 Trees To Mark 2nd Edition Of Green Ghana Day

Hon. Dr. Patrick Boakye-Yiadom the Member of Parliament for Obuasi East Constituency on Friday 10th May, 2022 joined the District Chief Executive for Obuasi East District Hon. Faustina Amissah to mark this year’s edition of Green Ghana Day to plant 16,000 trees in the District.

The Green Ghana Day was instituted last year by Government, under the auspices of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, as part of an aggressive afforestation and reforestation agenda, to restore the lost forest cover of the country.

The maiden edition of the Green Ghana Day was held on June 11, 2021, where Hon. Faustina Amissah led the entire District to plant 11,000 trees

The Green Ghana initiative seeks to create enhanced national awareness on the necessity for collective action towards restoration of degraded landscape in the country.

Speaking at the launch to mark this year’s edition of the Green Ghana Day at Christ the King Catholic Senior High School in the Obuasi East District with the theme: “Mobilizing for a Greener Future”, Hon. Faustina Amissah said forest is one of the most important resources of our country as it provides sources of livelihood for many and generates income and also very important to the fight against climate change and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

She said this initiative by the government will ensure the beatification of Obuasi East and provide shades along pedestrian walkways and greening open spaces.

To make the project a successful one, Hon. Amissah seized the opportunity to appeal to those who will go for seedlings to protect and maintain the sealings

The DCE promised that her outfit will team with other stakeholders to ensure that the trees planted will be properly caged to ensure that the seedlings are well protected.

Again, she said the Assembly will do a follow up on the seedlings given to individuals to ensure they are well maintained.

On his part, the Member of Parliament for Obuasi East Constituency Dr. Patrick Boakye Yiadom said, it was significant to mark the day to restore Ghana’s greenery environment.

He bemoaned the recent destruction of the forest areas. He said “if we do not replace the depleted forest by growing more trees, how can we survive as a people “.

The Member of Parliament expressed his hope that the people of Obuasi will contribute in diverse ways to ensure that the exercise does not burden the public purse.

Source: Modern Ghana